KoPT starts operations in disputed waters in orissa

The battle between the Orissa government and the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) over the extension of the latter’s area up to Kanika sands is getting murkier.

Though both the parties are fighting legal battles over the issue at the Orissa High Court and the Calcutta High Court, the KoPT said on Tuesday that it has already started operations on the area of contention. “We have already started operations in the area two months ago by handling a ship (Merina-R) handling 15,000 tonnes of peas. The port also asked the shipping community to operate in the area by using cranes, till the proposed transloading terminal comes into being,” said M L Meena, Chairman, KoPT.

A top Orissa government official said, “Legally they cannot do it. Even the Supreme Court has quashed their petition and held that the matter has to be decided in the Orissa High Court. The starting of operations at Kanika Sands by KoPT has not come to our notice and we will look into the matter.”

The tussle between the two parties started after the KoPT came out with a plan to build a transloading terminal at Kanika sands during the first half of the last decade. Though the plan was put on hold for some time, it came to limelight recently after the KoPT extended its limits to more than 200 kilo metre south of Haldia into the Bay of Bengal covering an area of 28646 square kilo metre, through a notification on November 10, 2010.The port had even moved to the Supreme Court demanding withdrawal of cases pending against it in the High Courts, which the apex court rejected last week. On the other hand, things turned worse after the West Bengal government too writing a letter to the Centre backing the port move. According to the Orissa, the KoPT’s move would affect seven upcoming ports — like DhamaraChudamani, Chandipur, Inchudi, Subarnarekha, Bichitrapur and Bahabalpur.

Further raising the pitch, Meena has alleged that Orissa is working in favour of some private parties and a “huge scam” has happened as the state has allotted port land to them without a proper bidding process. The Orissa government has also denied all allegations pertaining to allotment of land for the seven minor ports coming up along the coast of North Orissa.The KoPT, which was planning to build a transloading terminal said that it has invited bids five months back and has got bids from a consortium led by the Shipping Corporation of India, Adanis, Gammon and Transtroy.