Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Nov 16: Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) has opposed the move by New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) to hand over the container terminal at berth No 8 in the Port to a private player under PPP model.

Addressing media persons at its office here on Wednesday November 16, KCCI president Jeevan Saldanha said, "It has been a consistent practice of the NMPT and Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) to circulate tariff proposals to all stakeholders well in advance and thereafter, call for stakeholder comments. But the said proposal was not forwarded to KCCI neither by NMPT or TAMP.

"Berth No 8 is the only general dry bulk cargo berth with a draught of 14 m. The occupancy of this berth is 73.7 percent on an average. Handing over such a berth to a private partner would severely affect the lilvelihood of people from different fields like stevedores (labourers), commission and forwarding agents, steamer agents, and more. Thus we have sent a memorandum to the union shipping minister to direct the NMPT to drop the proposal and instead adopt development of business plan by Rotterdam Maritime Group/Tata Consultancy Services (RMG/TCS). We have also given representation to the member of parliament Nalin Kumar Kateel."

"The said decision has been taken by the board. The chairman of NMPT has told the media that the berth has 45 percent occupancy which is not true. Giving this berth to one individual will create monopoly. The cost of export and import from the coastal region will escalate which will have adverse effect. If the port was making loss then it would have been justified but the port trust has been making Rs 180 crore profit on an average every year. Giving this berth to a private party will also affect the state," Saldanha said.

"The bidders for the said berth are Adani Group, GMR Infrastructure, P&O Cruises and J M Bakshi. The highest bidder would get the tender. This berth was built by grant in aid by the government of India by budget route through Parliament at a cost of Rs 400 crore. Thus the berth built by the taxpayers' money is an asset belonging to the citizens of this country. Hence, giving this to a private entity under PPP is not justified," he said.

Vice president, Vathika Pai, Secretary of KCCI, Praveen Kumar Kalbavi and others were present.