September 08,
Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) has changed the rules for collecting licensing fees on storage of transit cargo in the yards and sheds of the Kolkata Dock System (KDS) w.e.f. September 1.
According to the new rules, the storage of transit cargo for the first 30 days will be charged fees at normal rates; for next 30 days the fees will be three times the normal rates. For the third month, the fees will be five times the normal rates. For storage beyond that, the fees will be 10 times the normal rates.
The new arrangement will generally be applicable to bulk cargo like logs, maize, pulses, Iron ore (the handling of Iron ore in KDS has since been stopped allowing only Haldia to handle it) which are loaded or unloaded either at Sagar or Diamond Harbor anchorages.
“We’ve seen traders occupying space for several months by paying at normal fees,” said a spokesman for KoPT. “We will not allow it any more. The transit storage space can no longer be used for warehousing purpose for an indefinite period.”
The revised rates will also be applicable to cargo stored in transit space on termination or forfeiture of the licenses as such storage will be deemed as unauthorized occupation and therefore must pay “compensation for wrongful use and occupation”.
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