The Seafood Exporters' Association of India has approached the Kerala High Court seeking a directive to India Gateway Terminal Private Ltd, operator of the International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT), Vallarpadam, to enforce the directive of the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) to issue bills of Terminal Handling Charges (THC) directly to the exporters and shippers according to the rates fixed by the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP).

The court had earlier directed the CPT to look into the grievances of the association that the charges collected from exporters were higher than the rates fixed by the TAMP.

The court had also ordered that if there was any substance in the grievances, the CPT should take remedial action.

Earlier plea

The Association said in its petition that at a meeting convened by the CPT in July 18 following the directive, the terminal operators had said that the charges were collected in accordance with the TAMP rates.

The operator further told the meeting that the higher charges were billed by the steamer agents. It was in this backdrop that the CPT issued a directive to the operators to issue bills of THCs directly to exporters and shippers.

The petition also pointed out that the operator had not taken any step to comply with the directive.

The practice of issuing bills through the steamer agents still continues, charging exorbitant amount.

The association alleged that the operators refused to implement the CPT directive despite repeated reminders, because the operator was hand in glove with the steamer agents association.

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