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V. Sajeev Kumar

Kochi, Sept. 21 The Cochin Port Staff Association has protested against the decision of the Union Government to ban import of palm products through Kochi port, saying that the ban has created a heavy fall in the income of the port at a time when it is struggling to attract cargo to increase its revenue.

The Union Government imposed the ban of palm products in Kerala to protect the interest of coconut farmers in the State. However, there is no justification in the ban while allowing import of these products through neighbouring ports, Mr P.M. Mohammed Haneef, Working President of the Association said.

This decision is highly discriminating as large quantities of palm products imported through the neighbouring ports are transported to Kerala through roads for domestic consumption.

Before imposing the ban, he said the palm products for consumption inside the State were imported through Kochi port at large quantities. The Government did not impose ban for consumption of palmolein in the State and also due to the ban, its consumption has not been decreased, he added.

The port, Mr Haneef said, had invested a lot to provide adequate infrastructure facilities to import and stack palm products and because of this ban all these facilities are kept idle causing heavy loss to the port.

He pointed out that coconut growers are more in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu compared with Kerala where no ban has been imposed yet on import of palm products.

Even after the ban, there is no change in the situation of coconut growers in the State as the palm products imported through neighbouring ports are easily available in the State and the consumption of palm products had exorbitantly increased in the State as statistics showed.

During the ban period, he said, imports through Mangalore, Chennai and Tuticorin ports more than doubled.

More Stories on : Oilseeds & Edible Oil | Shipping/Ports | Exports & Imports | Kerala

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