HBTS deposits `17 lakh for security

26 October 2012

biswabrata goswami
HALDIA, 26 OCT: Haldia Bulk Terminal Services (HBTS) today deposited Rs 17,45,730 with district police to cover the cost of police deployment for 10 days at berths 2 and 8 of Haldia Dock Complex (HDC).
In response to an HBTS writ petition, Mr Justice Dipankar Dutta of Calcutta High Court on 19 October had directed police to protect the berths and HBTS to cover the cost.
The court had also directed the district magistrate and superintendent of police of East Midnapore to ensure security so that no untoward incidents occur at these two berths.
HBTS had filed the writ petition to restore law and order at HDC after workers in Haldia kept them from resuming operations at the dock complex, alleging that Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) was giving preference to HBTS by diverting cargo to its berths.
The crisis at Haldia port erupted about a month ago when HBTS threatened to suspend operations at berths 2 and 8 because they were losing money. HBTS is the only agency in the Haldia port that handles bulk cargo mechanically. It pays a higher rate of royalty to the KoPT.
KoPT moved the High Court and on 12 September, signed an agreement with HBTS agreeing to allocate vessels to HBTS's berths on a priority basis. Workers at the port’s manually operated berths, however, objected to this and blocked the move.  They also allegedly attacked HBTS workers and prevented them from continuing their work, leading to the deterioration of law and order in the Haldia dock complex. Hence the need for police to provide security.
A port official, however, said: “It is the first time in West Bengal that a private operator is bearing cost of police deployment to ensure security of his own labourers and officers. Law and order is the state’s matter while in case of Haldia port issue, the state government is reluctant to provide security to a private operator free of cost."
Meanwhile, HBTS is yet to resume operations at berths 2 and 8 as hundreds of workers owing allegiance to Trinamul Congress trade union Inttuc launched a sit-in-demonstration in front of the HDC's gates today. The agitators demanded that all 275 retrenched workers be absorbed by HBTS immediately before it resumes its operations at the two mechanised berths.
HBTS CEO Gurpreet Malhi said: “Over the past two years, HBTS has made numerous requests to KoPT in vain for them to improve the situation. KoPT’s failure has left HBTS with no option but to retrench 275 employees. This decision was taken with the sole goal to keep the company afloat and to safeguard the employment of the remaining 350 employees.”
District Congress President Asit Paul has held KoPT Chairman Manish Jain responsible for failing to handle the situation properly. "I have written a complaint to the Central minister over this matter, asking him to take immediate steps so that normalcy is restored in Haldia port," he said