The Hindu Business Line : Coal linkage cut down for Paradip, Haldia ports; up for Visakhapatnam

THE coal linkage committee has cut down the thermal coal shipment linkage by the coastal route for the ports of Paradip and Haldia while that for Visakhapatnam port has been stepped up for the January-March quarter 2006 vis-à-vis the present quarter (October-December 2005).

The shipments are made through these ports to Ennore and Tuticorin ports to meet the requirement of Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

Thus the linkage for Haldia has been slashed to two lakh tonnes a month from the present three lakh tonnes while that for Paradip to 4.95 lakh tonnes from six lakh tonnes a month. Side by side the linkage for Visakhapatnam port has been stepped up to 2.95 lakh tonnes from the 1.95 lakh tonnes a month.

The rise in the linkage for Visakhapatnam port is believed to be due the good rail connectivity. The thermal coal shipped through Visakhapatnam port is sourced from IB Valley mines of the Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd. For the Railways, transporting coal from IB Valley mines to Viskhapatnam port is operationally convenient.

However, both Haldia and Paradip port authorities hope that, as on several earlier occasions, the actual loading ultimately might exceed the linkages. But then much would also depend on the Railways and the coal companies.

The January-March quarter being the busiest of the year, it is felt that the Railways and the coal companies would not be found lagging in their operations.