Chennai port looks for alternate cargo as against ban on Iron ore & Coal handling

A two-member Committee has been
appointed by the Shipping Ministry to find alternative ways and means of
improving the Chennai port's cargo handling operations.

The Committee's appointment comes
after the Madras High Court ordered shifting of coal-handling from Chennai port
to Ennore port, and the ban by the Karnataka State Government on iron-ore
exports.

Mr G. J. Rao, Chairman of the
Paradip Port Trust, and Mr P.V.K. Mohan, chairman of National Shipping Board,
who are the two members gave their recommendations to the ChPT on Friday.

Mr Atulya Mishra, chairman of
ChPT, said that the Committee wanted the port to explore the possibility of
working closely with Ennore port and look at new types of cargo, such as
agricultural products and heavy-duty project cargo.

“We have approached the Supreme
Court against the Madras High Court order. We do not know what the outcome is
going to be. Till then, we need to find new cargo,” he said.

The port has been handling
annually about 20 million tonnes of both coal (8 mt) and iron ore (12 mt).

The port could annually lose
revenue of around Rs 250 crore, estimates an official of the port, as a
consequence of the order asking the port to stop handling coal and iron which
generate dust and are hence polluting from last October.