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The Old Mangalore Port Users’ Association has urged the Karnataka Government to appoint an official to carry out the annual inspection of vessels for the renewal of vessel validity certificate.
Addressing presspersons here, Harish Kava, member of the association, said that all these years the port officer was carrying out the annual inspection for the renewal of validity certificates.
After the retirement of the port officer of Old Mangalore Port two months ago, the officer in charge has not been given the responsibility of carrying out the inspection. The person certifying these vessels should be of the rank of captain with enough experience. The officer in charge of Old Mangalore Port is an engineer and not a captain, he said.
It has affected various stakeholders dependent on Old Mangalore Port, which handles the cargo for vessels bound for Lakshadweep islands.
Of the nearly 60 vessels at Old Mangalore Port, around 20 have been forced to remain idle as they have not been inspected, he said.
Terming September-May period as the peak season for users of Old Mangalore Port, Kava said the Old Mangalore Port handles a majority of the cargoes bound for Lakshadweep during that period.
Though the Old Mangalore Port handles around 1000-1500 tonnes of cargo bound to Lakshadweep every day, it could handle a total of around 1000 tonnes in the last one month, he said.
Charandas Karkera, president of the association, said that the current situation has led to the diversion of cargo from Old Mangalore Port to Kozhikode port.
The members of the association have submitted a memorandum to the Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada district, and the MLA of Mangalore. The problem has also been brought to the notice of the Karnataka Port Minister.
If the Government fails to take any decision on their problem by October 21, the members of the association would resort to protests by stopping operations at Old Mangalore Port from October 22, Kava said.
vinayak.aj@thehindu.co.in
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