The Hindu Business Line : AP neglecting Kakinada old port: Barge owners

Kakinada, June 3 The State Government, which promised at the time of the construction of the new deepwater port that the old port and those dependent on it would be protected, is grossly neglecting the anchorage port and encouraging the new one, the Kakinada Barge Owners’ Welfare Association has alleged.

At a press meet here on Tuesday, Dr B. Ramamurthy, President of the association, said that more than 10,000 workers were dependent on the old port directly or indirectly and therefore due importance should be given to the infrastructure at the port. Instead of allocating enough funds for the purpose and improving facilities at the anchorage, he alleged that the State was imposing unreasonable restrictions.

Recently, he said, 11 out of the existing 26 jetties were denotified by the customs authorities on security grounds and as a result cargo-handling at the anchorage was badly affected. He said the C&F (carrying and forwarding) agents were using the barges as storage godowns by delaying the discharge of cargo like urea, causing congestion at jetties. The port authorities were therefore restricting the number of ships being handled at the anchorage.

The barge owners had agreed to increase the tonnage up to 600 tonnes a barge from the present 350, but the State was not agreeable to it.

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