Shri M.L.Meena, Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust confirmed falling cargo handling capacity of Kolkata Port Trust due to continuous silting of the river bed and inadequate dredging exercise. Mr. Meena was speaking at an Interactive Session organised by Merchants’ Chamber of Commerce today. He felt that dredging problems of riverine ports is a perennial one and some practical solution has to be evolved. This problem has resulted in lower cargo handling particularly POL which are now diverted to Vizag. Shri Meena felt that a long term solution is being thought of to up grade the infrastructure facilities. On a request for repair of the lock gate at Haldia Port which has been built over 25 years ago, he agreed to undertake this at the earliest. He also agreed to provide some more weigh bridges at the Haldia Port as their shortage is increasing the average waiting period unnecessarily for the exporters and importers.
On the issue of storage of cargo at the port, he said that License is given for 30 days but some businessmen are misusing them as their godown and evacuating the material based upon market demand which is not desirable.
Regarding building of a port at Diamond Harbour , he informed that about 165 acres of land are available with the State Government and no land acquisition is involved. He has already taken up transfer of this plot of land with the State Government which will be settled shortly. On the query of deep sea port being proposed to be built up by private parties he welcomed such endeavour and felt that it would not affect the Kolkata Port as smaller vessels will be handled by Kolkata Port. He informed that 3 more jetties will be built up at Haldia dock complex which will enhance the capacity to handle more cargo. The Kolkata Port has been sanctioned Rs. 6,494 crores under National Maritime Development Programme (NMDP) and 40 schemes covering construction and upgradation of berths, deepening of channels, augmenting of rail-road connectivity, upgradation of equipment etc. are being undertaken.
In his welcome address, Shri S.K.Sonthalia, Senior Vice President,MCC raised the issues of poor infrastructure at Kolkata and Haldia Ports , slow implementation of infrastructure development, and equipment upgradation which are resulting in lower cargo handling by these ports.
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