He also said that the CPT will soon offer wirehousing plots at Haldia and urged the businessmen to make wider use of national waterways and thus increase cargo transporttation using barges.

In 1999-2000, CPT handled just over 31mt of cargo out of which Calcutta Dock System (CDS) handled 10.31 mt, while Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) 20.69mt.

"A growth of 16 per cent is very difficult, but the target could be achieved provided CPT gets the support from the port users. From our side, we are gearing up to achieve the target," Roy told the members of the Marchants' Chamber of Commerce (MCC) on Thursday here during an interactive session.

During CPT's 130 years of history, it has never achieved 16 per cent growth in a single year except for 1997-98 when CDS could increase its handling to 7.95mt from 6.02mt achieved during the previous year, a growth of 32 per cent. Even the modern HDC, commissioned in 1977, could not achieve such a growth.

Roy said, CPT has already got back number of export items like capets which earlier went to some other ports. More crude imports are also expected.

Reacting to a comment by MCC president Ravi Todi in connection with the law and order situation around Calcutta port, CPT chairman said that the port authorities will come out with a white paper to be submitted to the state government. He said the CPT will discuss the related problems with the chambers before giving final shape to the paper.

Roy said the government and CPT want better usage of 1,600-km-long national waterway-I connecting Calcutta with Allahabad. He urged the members to take up cargo transportation business using barges. "These barges could be bought, hired or leased," he suggested. They can also use these barges for carrying cargo from Sagar anchorage to upstream as CPT will more and more go for lighterage of big vessels, he said. He said CPT is encouraging private sector investments in port equipment as well as in the setting up of new jetties on joint venture or BOT basis. CPT expects more than Rs 350-crore private sector investment duirng the Ninth Plan period.