Photo: Krishnapatnam Port The response of Indian ports to the deadly second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic has been mixed between the private and public sector. Some of the largest private ports have gone the extra mile to facilitate the movement of medical equipment and supplies, while government-owned 12 major ports have been running operations as best they can in the face of local lockdowns imposed by state governments. “Due to Covid-related disruptions, there was a significant fall in cargo handling at the 12 major ports (that handle 61% of the country’s total seaborne traffic) during the financial year ended 31 March 2021, compared to fiscal 2019-20,” said Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Mansukh Mandaviya.