The Hindu Business Line : Centre urged to make Hooghly navigable

Kolkata, Oct. 17 The West Bengal Government is concerned at the deteriorating draft in the Hooghly river near Haldia dock as it fears that the present situation, if continues, will hit shipping movement affecting the trade.

The Chief Minister, Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, on Friday called the Union Shipping Minister, Mr T.R. Baalu, and urged him to ensure availability of sufficient number of dredgers to Haldia to expedite dredging to improve the navigability of the river.

The State Government’s concern was also conveyed by the Chief Secretary, Mr Amit Kiran Deb, to the Union Shipping Secretary, Mr A.P.V.N. Sarma, who was here to attend the function held on the occasion of the 138th anniversary of Kolkata Port Trust.

Later, while talking to Business Line, Mr Sarma said the Union Government was aware of the gravity of the navigability problem and was trying to do everything possible to step up dredging in the Hooghly.

A DCI dredger, currently under repair, would arrive at Haldia within a week or so and another DCI dredger, also under repair, by the end of next month. There was also a move to charter two more dredgers and the necessary steps had been initiated. He also indicated that another DCI dredger currently deployed at Sethu Samudram might be transferred to Haldia.

Addressing the function marking the celebration of 138th anniversary of Kolkata Port Trust, the Union Shipping Secretary reaffirmed the Centre’s resolve to support the port’s efforts to meet the challenges thrown up by the deteriorating draft in the Hooghly.

“The Union Government will meet the dredging requirement of Kolkata port which has the largest navigational channel in the world,” he observed. Emphasising the need for taking a customer-focused approach, he urged the port authorities to plan for future such that the facilities in coming days were created down the Hooghly closer to the sea.

Dr A.K. Chanda, Chairman of Kolkata Port Trust, conceded that the navigability problem at Haldia was serious but not insurmountable. With more dredgers becoming available it should be possible to tackle the problem, Dr Chanda added.

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