HBT decides to exit Haldia port

A counsel for the HBT told the vacation bench of Justice Sambuddha Chakraborty that the company had already faxed a letter to the port authorities informing them of its decision.

The counsel said this when Arunava Ghosh, counsel for the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), sought the High Court's intervention in asking the HBT to resume cargo loading work at the Haldia dock.

When contacted, KoPT officials said that HBT informed them that they had sent a letter in this regard this morning, adding, "we can react after we go through the contents of the letter".

The next hearing in the case is due on November 2.

HBT was the PPP partner in cargo handling for berth no 2 and 8 at Haldia Dock Complex and operations were stopped by HBT since mid-September.

KoPT a few days back had put an application before the High Court to direct HBT to resume work after an agreement for a resolution to the impasse was already signed and work was not resumed by the private cargo handler.