The levy is being introduced for the first time with the aim to offset the cost incurred by the MbPT to run the fish habours. The port has sought the permission of the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) to make the proposal effective.

The port trust is incurring a recurring expenditure of Rs 81 lakh per annum on manning and maintenance of existing sassoon dock and new fish jetty. Operation and maintenance of the new sassoon fish harbour is expected to cost Rs 70 lakh per annum.

For the ice crushing machine, the proposed fee is Rs 6,000 per annum. For the fish auctioneers and ice suppliers the annual licence fee will be Rs 7,500 and Rs 4,000, respectively. Hand carts will be liable to pay annual fee of Rs 300 while for water suppliers, the port will charge Rs 6,000 per annum.

Transport vehicles licensing will costRs 500 per truck per annum and Rs 20 per truck per day if annual permit is not taken. The weighing scales or the kantawalas will have to shell out Rs 4,000 per annum while the bunkering oil and diesel pump will have to give Rs 25,000 annually.

According to MbPT, only valid licenceholders (to be renewed annually) shall be allowed to carry out the above activities. The registered fishermen's cooperative societies will be granted rebate of 50 per cent in these licencee fees.

The fisheries development commissioner, ministry of agriculture had conveyed in 1994 and 1995 that MbPT may review the existing rate structure so as to meet not only the expenses of operations and maintenance of the fish jetty but also to raise funds for future investments in fishery harbour.

In fact, the ministry of agriculture has suggested not only revision of charges in respect of fishing fleet but also of other shore-based fish trade activities.

The ministry had also advised MbPT to fix user charges in respect of the new fishharbour in consultations with the department of fisheries, government of Maharashtra. The new sassoon fish harbour constructed at a cost of Rs 11 crore, will be commissioned shortly.

According to the estimates of Financial Advisor & CAO (chief accountant officer) the `ideal income' from the fish harbours should be Rs 4 crore as against the existing annual revenue of around Rs 50 lakh only.

Following the meeting in March 1996, the revenue from the fish harbour was pegged at Rs 1.49 crore. Though this did not meet the operation and maintenance cost plus a minimum return on capital invested and considering that the revision of charges shall not have adverse impact on the traditional fish related activities in Mumbai, it was proposed to moderate the rates. Several meeting were held with user associations and revised rates agreed upon.