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Kolkata, Aug. 18 Haldia Dock Officers’ Forum, which has been expressing concern for the past few weeks over the deteriorating draft in the Hooghly river near the dock, often apprehending probable closure of the dock shortly, is not convinced that the measures announced by the authorities of Kolkata Port Trust to tackle the problem will yield desired results.

What is immediately needed is the deployment of the required number of dredgers, not only to intensify current level of dredging but also to clear last three years’ dredging backlog, according to a statement issued by the Forum.

The agreement signed between KoPT and the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) provides for five dredgers to be deployed by DCI in the Hooghly throughout the year and the sixth one for 120 days. On Sunday, the dredger strength in the Hooghly dropped to one, say Forum sources.

The essence of the measures announced by the port authorities, the statement points out, presupposes constriction of the channel from 1,500 ft to 1,125 ft, not deployment of more dredgers. However, such constriction will restrict the freedom of the river pilots to manoeuvre the vessels, essential for navigating tankers and bulk carriers along the difficult channel.

Besides, as it is pointed out, the proposed measures will in no way stop shoaling of the channel to be used for the movement of vessels. The problem created by shoaling, it is felt, can be tackled only through dredging and proper river training measures, none of which is being contemplated by the port authorities, at least immediately.

If the solution to the navigability problem in the Hooghly river is so simple, then why was it not adopted much earlier? asks the Forum, pointing out that the navigability problem is not new but has been allowed to deteriorate without the adoption of appropriate measures in time.

The vessels, carrying loads on the basis of draft forecast of 4.1 metre at Auckland, the governing bar for Haldia, were suddenly informed of the draft cut due to increased shoaling at Auckland with the result on August 13 there was bunching of Haldia-bound tankers at the Sandheads.

The river pilots, it is pointed out, will now get hardship allowance at an enhanced rate of Rs 1,500 a vessel movement as compared to Rs 500 so far, presumably because of the higher risks they will take to steer the vessels along the constricted channel. Expressing sympathy with the pilots, the Forum wonders if this is the right kind of approach to handle a problem as serious as the one facing the dock.

Meanwhile, the KoPT Chairman has agreed to meet the officers of Haldia dock and discuss threadbare with them the relevant issues, according to dock sources.

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