The reduction in water-level for the boat to float at the Haldia port has left as many as 32 ships stranded.

Sources in Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) on Wednesday said many of these were unable to enter the port due to heavy loads they were carrying.

So far, KoPT has maintained that the reduced draught is not unusual at this time of the year and it would not lead to a closure of the Haldia port. But officers and workers of the Haldia dock painted a different picture altogether and said the reduced parcel size is only the first step towards the closure of the port.

“It is certainly a matter of great concern that the parcel load of the ships has been reduced. If this continues then it would certainly be a major problem,” said a senior official of the KoPT.

Sources at the Haldia dock said that that the 0.3 mts draught cut has completely restricted the ships’ movement and to an extent that only empty vessels or very light vessels and barges have been able to move in and out of the dock.

Moreover, at present there are around 18 ships waiting to leave the dock, many of which are stranded due to the reduced draught.

To overcome the problem, a dredger has been called in and it is expected to reach Haldia from Paradeep by Thursday.

The port authorities have already requested the Dredging Corporation of India (DCI) for two more dredgers, which are expected to arrive by the end of October.

... contd.