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Our Bureau

Kolkata, Aug. 14 The Kolkata Port Trust will immediately acquire on charter a dredger to expedite dredging in the Hooghly River. However, the Dredging Corporation of India will do the chartering on behalf of the port — this was decided at a high-level meeting in New Delhi recently.

Also, steps will be taken to ensure that two of the three DCI dredgers, which are dedicated to Hooghly dredging but now under repair, will resume operation shortly and the third one in October, according to port sources. Right now, only two dredgers as against the stipulated five are working in Hooghly.

It might be recalled that the Haldia Dock Officers’ forum recently expressed apprehension that the steadily deteriorating draft situation in the Hooghly River near Haldia dock might spell disaster for the dock, entailing its closure.

Meanwhile, at a high-level meeting attended by the Chairman of Kolkata Port Trust, Dr A.K. Chanda, the Deputy Chairman of Haldia Dock, Mr Rajeev Dube, the Director of Marine, Capt A.K. Bagchi, and other senior officials, decisions were taken on steps to improve the draft in the river.

The steps would include reduction in the width of the channel — from the present 460 metres (five tracks) to 345 metres (four tracks) for Haldia and from 400 metres (five tracks) to 300 metres ( four tracks) for Kolkata Dock System — reduction of the under keel clearance for Haldia and reduction of trim for container vessels calling at Kolkata Dock system.

As a result, it is felt, there will be an immediate increase in draft at Haldia by 0.45 metres and by 0.65 metres from September, increase in draft for container vessels calling at Kolkata Dock System by 0.05 metres allowing additional load of four to five containers a vessel and increase in draft for lighterage vessels at Diamond Harbour, the sources add.

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