The KoPT on September 18 had sought EoI till October 24 for the LNG facility from interested parties meant for common use and a pre-proposal meeting had also been firmed up on October 13, KoPT officials said.
Haldia Docks Officers' Forum general secretary Ramakant Burman has claimed that it was an attempt by KoPT to allow H-Energy of Hiranandani Group to setup the facility without any tendering or auctioning process.
"Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust has given water and land rights to H-Energy of Hiranandani Group of Mumbai for setting up of (FSRU) in the Bay of Bengal absolutely on nomination basis against the existing CVC guidelines in the matter," Burman has claimed in his letter.
The EoI floated by the port did not mention whether the contract would be given through tendering or through auctioning.
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KoPT chairman did not respond to repeated calls.
H Energy could not be reached for comments on the issue.
A resolution background that was placed before the KoPT in November 2013 stated that HEECPL had undertaken studies in 2012-13 with permission of KoPT, and, on basis of it, selected a location for setting up a 4 MMTPA LNG floating storage and regasification unit connected with a sub-sea pipline to a landfall point at Petua in East Midnapore district.
It said, on examination it was found that the project did not envisage grant of any exclusive right of port facility and would require to give permission for anchorage of the terminal and laying sub-sea pipeline on payment of TAMP notified charges and subsequently in principal approval was given to HEECPL in September 2013.