New entity to take up Masula port logistics

Amaravati: The AP state cabinet which met here on Wednesday cleared a proposal by the AP Infrastructure and Investment Corporation to raise a loan of Rs 1,092 crore from banks for taking up Machilipatnam Deep Water Port and Integrated Logistics and Manufacturing Zone (ILMZ).

The ILMZ, which will be set up by the Container Corporation of India, is for managing the entire inward and outward logistics requirements for raw materials and finished goods at the port so that the companies could focus on their core competency of manufacturing. The ILMZ will come up in an area of about 1,000 acres.

The Deep Water Port is expected to play a great role in the regional economic development as well as the socio-economic development of the Machilipatnam region. This port would be a primary port in the area stretching from capital region of Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad and Nagpur regions in Maharashtra.

Briefing media persons on cabinet decisions, Information and Public Relations Minister K Srinivasulu said that the cabinet addressed the contentious issue of contributory pension scheme which the employees have been opposing. "The issue has been discussed thoroughly and it has been posted for further discussion at the next cabinet meeting," he said.

The cabinet has cleared another proposal to set up 11th pay revision commission. The commission after its constitution is expected to submit its report within a year, he said. Nearly 4.3 lakh government employees across all the 13 districts of the state would become the direct beneficiaries of the pay revision commission’s recommendations.By another decision, the cabinet cleared a proposal to create AP Virtual Classroom and Content Corporation. 

According to Srinivasulu, the new corporation would revolutionise the way instruction is given in schools. The idea was to provide instruction online from district centre to virtual classrooms in all the schools. The corporation will also focus on content creation since it has to have the appropriate content, different from the one in use now, for beaming the lessons. 

"The new initiative would help the talented teachers to move to the next level,” he said. The cabinet also cleared an ordinance amending AP Compulsory Registration of Marriages Act, 2002. The ordinance will facilitate implementation of the Chandranna Pelli Kanuka to various castes and religions under one roof. The cabinet also approved allotment of 51.92 acres land in CRDA for location of various offices and institutions.