Haldia dock set to report Rs 200 cr deficit in FY13

Kolkata Port Trust’s Haldia dock is set to post a deficit of over Rs 200 crore in the current 2012-13 fiscal against a surplus of Rs 90 crore in the previous year.

“Till March 15, the deficit for Haldia dock is Rs 205 crore as against a surplus of Rs 90 crore in 2011-12,” sources told PTI.

The poor revenue is attributed to sharp slump in cargo movement in the port due several reasons including low iron-ore export because of curbs and the exit of ABG from Haldia, they added.

Haldia has been a major revenue earner for KoPT among the two docks it controlled.

ABG handled mechanised cargo at berths 2 & 8 from which KoPT used to earn Rs 150 a tonne.

With the Union finance ministry decision to phase out dredging subsidy, KoPT is in double trouble, the sources said.

In 2012-13, subsidy cut will be 5 per cent and from next year the reduction will be 10 per cent till subsidy is phased out.

To save the port, KoPT is trying hard to begin transloading activity in the next three months to keep cargo flowing into the port.

KoPT Chairman R P S Kahlon said 70 per cent of the cargo would be transloaded to barges, while the rest would go to the Haldia dock complex.