Kolkata Port Trust has run into fresh trouble, with the Union ministry of finance seeking a detailed report of operations at the Kolkata and Haldia Dock complexes, to gauge whether it is viable to continue to extend dredging subsidy.
Cargo traffic at KoPT has fallen sharply over two years. Till November, KoPT had handled 30.6 million tonnes of cargo – a 14 per cent decline - compared to the 35.25 mt it carried during the corresponding period last year. In the previous financial year, KoPT handled 54 mt of cargo, a six per cent drop over the 57.3 mt carried in 2007-08.
A senior official at KoPT said, “The review is a routine exercise conducted by the ministry. We are quite certain that financial assistance would be provided for dredging activities at the port complexes.”
Officials at the Union ministry of shipping, however, indicated the government is deliberating on the feasibility of shelling out Rs 300-400 crore on an annual basis for maintaining the river channel. The dredging expenses for KoPT this financial year is expected to be Rs 390 crore.
A senior official at the ministry explained, “Over the last 40 years or so, siltation problems have plagued the port. Inadequate draught has hampered operations. We are looking at developing areas around KoPt, so traffic operations can continue uninterrupted in the region.”
He said negotiations are underway with the ministry of defence to make land available for constructing berths and terminals at Diamond Harbour. The facilities would require around two to three years to be developed.
Meanwhile, the depth has declined to 3.7 metres at Auckland, the governing bar for the navigational channel, against a normal minimum depth of five metres. Heavier ships are unable to anchor at the port.
An official at Haldia Port said, “On a regular basis, 10-15 ships wait to enter the port. This being the lean season has aggravated depth problems at the complex.”
Talks were held between port officials and Dredging Corporation of India to send Dredger-15 from Colombo and Dredger-12 from Vishakapatnam to Haldia Dock Complex by the middle of October. The dredgers have not been sent yet.
There are six dredgers at work in KoPT. However, port authorities say most are old and operate below 70 per cent capacity.
