PPT, ECoR engage in blame game as 3.5 mt imported cargo pile up

Paradip Port Trust (PPT) said due to lack of adequate evacuation facility from the railways, imported cargo amounting to more than 3.5 million tonne (mt) have piled up in the stock area, leading to discomfort of steel and power companies as well as shipping agents.

The cargo include nearly 2 million tonne of steam and coking coal with the balance being dolomite and other dry cargo. These commodities are primarily required by steel and power companies based in Odisha and its neighbouring states.

The problem has been continuing for past one and half months due to insufficient rail rakes provided by the East Coast Railways (ECoR). The railways need to send 22-24 rakes per day to evacuate the cargo, up from its current position of 10-12 rakes, said a PPT official. However, the the railway authorities said, they have not received any complaints so far from PPT.

“Railway rakes are available in plenty. But Paradip port has not unloaded rakes sent to it because of incessant rains, leading to evacuation problem relating to sending the imported cargo back on the same rakes. Moreover, the PPT has not complained to us regarding the shortage,” said a senior official of the ECoR.

As the cargo stocks have exceeded the storage capacity, the port earlier this week delayed berthing of a ship carrying cargo for Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL).

“JSPL vessel could not berth due to inadequate cargo space,” the port said in its traffic report on Monday.

The port authorities have asked all the user agencies to improve cargo evacuation.

“Evacuation of cargo from berth is very poor. All users are advised to make all efforts to improve productivity,” said the port trust in its daily traffic update today.

The port usually has a storage capacity for 1.5 million tonne cargo, while due to evacuation problem, the stocks have surpassed more than 3.5 million tonne. Many steel and power plants of Odisha, Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh rely on Paradip port for import of coking coal and other commodities required for their plants. Meanwhile, the the port has allowed priority berthing for Adani Power, Bengal Energy, Bhushan Steel, JSPL, Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL), Jindal Stainless Ltd (JSL), Sesa Sterlite and Tata Steel. It has also decided to impose penalty on stevedoring agents for not clearing the berth area after loading and unloading of cargo.

“All stevedores are advised to clean the bullard (ship berthing) point after sailing/shifting of the vessel failing which a penalty of Rs 1 lakh will be imposed on the erring stevedores,” the port said recently, upgrading its earlier fine of Rs 5,000.