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V. Sajeev Kumar

Kochi , June 6

LACK of co-ordination between various departments at Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is causing hardships to exporters and cargo agents, resulting in delay in giving export/import clearance to and from the airport.

Sources in the air cargo industry here pointed out that CIAL, as an apex body, should co-ordinate among various departments such as Customs, Plant Quarantine (PQ) and other airline staff concerned for smooth functioning. Considering the quantum jump in cargo arrival in the recent period, CIAL should take the lead in setting things right to make the airport globally competitive, the sources added.

Highlighting various problems at the airport in a memorandum, air cargo agents pointed out that there had been a delay at the airport in clearing import and export cargo. In almost all the airports worldwide, this work has been entrusted to private agencies.

Likewise, the absence of a PQ office in the CIAL complex is causing hardship and additional expenses for shippers, they alleged. Despite repeated requests, there has been no progress in establishing a PQ office at Nedumbassery. It is pointed out that the PQ office is mandatory at all international airports to monitor import /export of exotic /prohibited /endangered flora and fauna.

There is no adequate weighing scale with CIAL to weigh cargo above one tonne and calibrations are often inaccurate. Now that x-ray has become mandatory, loaders are demanding additional charges (50 per cent more) for merely putting the cargo on to the x-ray conveyor belt. The memorandum demanded that CIAL should initiate action to stop collection of additional charges by the labourers with immediate effect.

The documents, including the airway bill, certificate of origin, PQ certificate and other statutory certificates, are being kept in a folder of each airline by the agents. However, there is no acknowledgment being issued for this.

The terminal charges are being billed based on the chargeable weight of each consignment.

This chargeable weight is arrived at based on some calculations as per IATA regulations. It is unfair on the part of CIAL to bill terminal charges on the chargeable weight, the memorandum said.

It was also pointed out that the authorities are demanding to file separate shipping bills for off loaded part shipment cargo.

According to cargo agents, no other airport in the country follows this procedure. For filing a fresh additional shipping bill, it has become necessary for the agents concerned to get amended invoice/packing list etc.

However, it would be difficult to get these documents from the shipper at a very short span of time.

Moreover, providing two different sets of post-shipment documents for one consignment will create confusion with bankers and promotional bodies.

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