"This will not only adversely impact the future operations at Haldia, but more importantly the image of the state... We urge you to call the affected party's representatives with a positive stance to resolve their concerns," Bengal Chamber President Kallol Datta said in a letter to Vasan.
Copies of the letter were sent to the Kolkata Port Trust, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee, HBT CEO Gurpreet Malhi and ABG Infra Managing Director Saket Agarwal.
On October 31, HBT, jointly promoted by ABG group of India and French logistics company LDA, announced immediate exit from Haldia port citing unsafe work conditions.
Problems were brewing at the Haldia Dock Complex, run by Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), after berth operator HBT sacked 275 employees last month on the ground that there was surplus staff.