The Hindu Business Line : Row over wheat imports at Kakinada port hotting up

The Cocanada Chamber of Commerce has decided to convene a meeting this week to find a solution to the row raging over the alleged diversion of wheat imports to the new deepwater port from the old anchorage port.

The agitated old port workers are preparing for a confrontation and the Kakinada Steel Barge Welfare Owners' Association has filed a petition in Andhra Pradesh High Court against the move to allow wheat handling at the new port.

The first shipment of wheat is expected to arrive by the month-end and the controversy is hotting up.

According to Mr B. Ramamurthy, President of the Kakinada Steel Barge Owners' Association, and Mr V. Veerababu, President of the Port Cargo Boat and Steel Barge Owners's Association, the import of wheat is being diverted to the new port on the pretext that there are no facilities at the anchorage for handling bulk cargo but it is not tenable.

"Handling bulk cargo is by no means new to the old anchorage port. Fertilisers are being handled in the bulk and wheat can also be handled," they contended.

They said a delegation of old port workers had met the Chief Minister and submitted a petition against the move. The Chief Minister is reported to assure the delegation that the interests of the old port workers will not be compromised.

Explaining the background, Mr D. Surya Rao, President of the Cocanada Chamber of Commerce, has said that the Union Ministry of Food and Commerce has decided to route some of the wheat imports through the Kakinada port due to the urgency of the situation and the new port has been chosen as it has a floating crane. "The State Government has also given its consent to the move. There is already a rush at the anchorage. Ten ships are at the anchorage and 10 more are expected to call at the old port within a few days. Shippers are forced to pay demurrages due to the long wait at the old port. We will try to find an amicable solution to the problem," he has said.

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