Even though the law and order issue has yet to be resolved, the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) authorities are mounting pressure on the contracted private cargo handler to start operations or face termination.
According to a senior port official, KoPT moved court on Friday for setting a deadline for Haldia Bulk Terminal Pvt Ltd (HBT) to resume operations. Failure to start operations within the time-frame may lead to termination of contract as per “relevant clauses of the agreement”.
HBT is a joint venture between ABG Ports of Mumbai and French logistics major Louis Dreyfus Armateurs (LDA). In its interim order on October 19, the Calcutta High Court refused to accept that the situation at HBT operated berths “are absolutely normal”, as was claimed by the West Bengal Government.
Pays for protection
Expressing “shock” at the “utter apathy” of the local administration to address complaints lodged by HBT, the court ordered deployment of temporary police guards (at the expense of HBT) to prevent disruptive activities.
HBT claims that as per court order it has paid Rs 17.50 lakh into the State Treasury on October 26, the first working day after Durga Puja vacation (since October 19) for deployment of additional forces.
HBT chief Gurpreet Malhi, meanwhile, claimed that the company will resume operations once the district police apprise him of deployment of additional forces in the dock complex.
According to the district Superintendent of Police (SP-East Midnapore), Sukesh Kumar Jain, deployment of forces is likely to be completed on Sunday.
However, the KoPT, in its fresh appeal to the court, said that the failure of HBT to resume operations is hurting the interest of the port as well as its users. KoPT had on October 12 written to HBT to either start operations or face “further action” (read, termination).
Agitation continues
Meanwhile, the ruling party in West Bengal appears to be unmoved by the woes of HBT.
On October 26, a group of former workers of HBT held a demonstration in front of the dock complex demanding reinstatement. Their demands were previously supported by the Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) at the court.
When asked, local Trinamool MP and leader of INTTUC Subhendu Adhikary refused to take responsibility for the agitation. The retrenched workers and family members are fighting for their rights, Adhikary said, passing the buck on to HBT for retrenching workers.
HBT, in a previous communication, had blamed political compulsions for being forced to absorb “excess” workers and justified their retrenchment after inadequate cargo availability.