Kolkata lands in controversy

Permission was granted to KoPT to extent its jurisdiction to 200 km south of Haldia by the Ministry of Shipping, according to reports in the Times of India.

However, there are concerns, raised by Orissa chief minister Navin Patnaik, that the decision would affect several private ports that are planned for the state’s northern coast.

Mr Patnaik met shipping minister GK Vasan at the end of January and urged him to withdraw the notification allowing Kolkata’s extension, saying it would seriously affect upcoming ports in Orissa such as Dhamra, Chudamani, Chandipur, Inchudi, Subarnarekha Mouth, Bichitrapur and Bahabalpur, adding that it “would jeopardise the state’s effort to develop the maritime sector”.

Officers said the state government is prepared to take legal action against KoPT, but KoPT representatives have reportedly said they were ready for a legal battle, adding that the additional area was only to help the port undertake bulk transloading during both monsoon and dry seasons.

Sources have said that the main area of contention is on Kanika Island, which the Orissa government says falls under the proposed Bahabalpur project, for which plans have been in the pipeline since 1991. The matter has already been the subject of some controversy, since in 2005 KoPT asked for tenders for dry bulk transloading operations on the island.