In a flip-flop from its earlier stance to withdraw a prayer on October 26 at Calcutta High Court, the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) today approached the court with a recall application of its plea.
“The court accepted the matter and said that it would appear before a regular bench after the Puja vacation,” said senior port official. The original application was to ask ABG Haldia Bulk Terminals(HBT) to continue its cargo handling operation at Haldia.
Last week, the port counsel had withdrawn its prayer at High Court asking HBT to continue its cargo handling operation. Following this, the court had withdrawn the application. Later, KoPT distanced from the move and added that it never wanted to withdraw the petition.
The company had pulled out of operations at berth number 2 and 8 of Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) on October 28, citing law and order issues.
“Despite the fact KoPT formed a three member committee to discuss the matter with representatives of HBT and other stakeholders, HBT never responded to it,” the port said in a statement today.
Meanwhile, a fresh allegation came to the limelight today, which said that a retrenchment threat by the cargo handling firm Ripley & Co to its workers union, Haldia Dock Complex Thikadar and Agency Sramik Union, on September 14 had triggered the immediate protests at Haldia.
“The company had written a letter to its workers, saying that it have no other choice but to retrench them, if HBT gets lions share of dry bulk cargo at Haldia. This has triggered the agitations on September 15,” said Ramakant Barman, secretary of Haldia Dock Official's Forum. However, Ripley officials did not respond to the Business Standard questions.
