The Hindu Business Line : Kolkata port, Defence lock horns over Haldia dock land

The Navy’s reluctance to give back the Haldia dock land has pushed into uncertainty one of the two river-front jetties proposed to be built at the dock.

The Haldia dock

Our Bureau

Kolkata, Sept 1

A battle has started between the Defence authorities and the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) over land at the Haldia dock.

The KoPT wants back from the Defence authorities about 50 acres of Haldia dock land it had leased out some 20 years ago. The argument of KoPT is: The land has not been used so far for the purpose it was acquired and in the meantime, the dock authorities urgently need the land for creating back-up facilities for the proposed river-front jetty.

The Defence authorities have so far declined to entertain the KoPT’s demand. In turn, the KoPT has served on the authorities a notice terminating the lease agreement.

According to the agreement, six months’ notice is required for termination to come into force. At the last meeting of the board of trustees of KoPT held recently, the Naval Office-in-charge, also a member of the board, took strong exception to KoPT’s action, it is learnt.

KoPT, inquiries reveal, is ready to provide an alternative site on the river front to the Navy to enable it to launch its proposed project. It even offered 10 acres at Jellingham immediately and the balance 40 acres at some other place. However, the Navy’s response to KoPT’s offer was lukewarm, it is learnt. It preferred some prime port land within the city of Kolkata in lieu of the Haldia land, it is further learnt.

As KoPT sources indicate, the Navy’s reluctance to give back the Haldia dock land has pushed into uncertainty one of the two river-front jetties proposed to be built at the dock.

The land will be needed to serve as back-up area for the proposed 275-metre long jetty estimated to cost Rs 150 crore. In addition to storage facility, road and rail connectivity have to be created on the land to serve the proposed jetty.

This is not for the first time, it might be noted, that the dispute over land has stalled a KopT project. The much-publicised container terminal project at the Diamond Harbour under the Kolkata Dock System has run into rough weather because the Defence authorities declined to part with 43 acres of land at the Diamond Harbour.

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