ABG Haldia directed to continue work till Sept 12

The Calcutta High Court on Friday directed ABG Haldia Bulk Terminal, which had given notice to Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) that it would suspend work at Haldia Dock from September 8, to continue work till September 12.

In an interim order, Justice Sanjeeb Banerjee directed ABG Haldia to continue the work as per schedule till September 12, and that he would hear the petition moved by KoPT on September 10.

The matter could not be heard in detail by the court as there was reportedly some technical glitch in the notice served by KoPT to ABG Haldia.

ABG Haldia had given notice to KoPT that it would not handle cargo at its Haldia Dock’s berth two and eight for allegedly not being provided 7.5 lakh tonne dry bulk cargo monthly as per agreement.

It claimed that KoPT was providing it around five lakh tonne cargo monthly which was much below its capacity and as such it intended to suspend work there.

KoPT moved the high court praying for direction to ABG Haldia not to suspend work at the two berths.

It claimed in its petition that as berth two and eight were specialised, these needed advanced technology for cargo handling and which only ABG had in the country.

KoPT referred to the Arbitration clause of October 16, 2009, which according to it provided that the contractor shall not delay or suspend work arbitrarily.

Considering the situation, Justice Banerjee asked ABG Haldia to continue operations till September 12 and directed that the matter would be heard on September 10.