The Hindu Business Line : Gandhidham Chamber calls indefinite strike at Kandla port from March 3

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Gandhidham Chamber calls indefinite strike at Kandla port from March 3

Charges the Ministry with ‘apathy’ in solving long-pending issues

Our Bureau

Ahmedabad, Feb. 18

Charging the Union Ministry of Shipping with “apathy” in solving long-pending problems, the Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has called for an indefinite strike at Kandla Port beginning March 3.

Addressing a press conference here on Monday, the GCCI President, Mr Parasmal Nahta, and other office-bearers, said the issues that need to be addressed urgently include those related to mortgage fees, renewal of lease agreements, dredging, drop in container traffic, development and construction of new berths, improvement of road and other infrastructure outside port limit, release of long dwell containers, removal of monopoly for CFS operations outside Kandla Port, allotment of land for parking plot, under-utilisation of berths, and congestion at the Port, among others.

Strike loss

The strike could cause a loss of Rs 5,000 crore per week, he added. The Kandla Port Trust (KPT) is sitting on over two lakh acres and has failed to create civic amenities for more than five lakh people residing on the land owned by the Centre in Kandla and adjoining towns.

Mr Nahta also said that the Ministry’s apathy towards Kandla had benefited ports in the southern States. “Forty per cent of Kandla’s traffic has already been shifted elsewhere and another 30 per cent could be lost in the next three months if urgent steps are not taken.”

A joint meeting of the GCCI’s Managing Committee, Exim Trade Associations and Port Users Associations unanimously decided to initiate the programme of agitation. “Certain actions of Port Administration on some matters as also inaction on their part has stalled further progress of the Port and even resulted in reversing the progress made in the last few years,” he stated

‘Nothing concrete’

Mr Nahta said despite meetings and representation, nothing concrete seems to have been done. The under-utilisation of the berth allotted to the ABG Kandla Container Traffic Ltd (ABGKCTL) for container traffic has created a situation, where a berth lies vacant and vessels continue to wait.

ABG Kandla and Kandla Port Trust should evolve a practical strategy so that precious foreign exchange is not wasted by way of demurrage. Since commencement of the company’s activity, there has been continuous drop in container traffic due to monopoly of a single operator. The trade is left with no choice but to divert container vessels to nearby ports, Mr Nahta said.

The renewal of lease agreements pertaining to salt fields and others issues have also been lying pending with the Ministry of Shipping since the last four years, and in some cases more than seven years. Maintenance dredging at the Port has been suspended for the last one-and-a-half months, which has deteriorated the draft in the channel. If immediate action is not taken the situation would worsen and adversely affect shipping activity.

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