New Delhi, July 31: The government on Monday said it has asked the Mumbai Port Trust (MPT) to take suitable steps to overcome impediments in the growth of container cargo. "While allowing for a reasonbale amount of competitive spirit among the major ports in an overall global scenario, the government is of the view that avoidable irritants in the promotion of container cargo traffic ought to be removed," an official statement said here on Monday following reports of fights between MPT and Jawaharlal Nehru Port over container cargos.After these reports, the Department of Shipping carried out an analysis which revealed that the trade was constrained by the functioning of the octroi department which allegedly delayed clearance by two days, it said. "Also, against the actual cost of Rs 4,500 per 20-inch and Rs 8,000 per 40-inch container, the shipping companies were being permitted to recover heavy additional charges amounting to Rs 8,375 per 20 inch container and Rs 18,000 per 40-inch container as terminal handling charges," the statement noted.
In addition to the difficulties in organising the booking of steamer agents' stevadore labour gang and the MPT labour gang prior to effecting clearance of cargo, the government also noted a number of other charges being imposed on the trade by steamer agents. As per the statement, total income of MPT fell to Rs 615.93 crore in 1999-2000 from Rs 686 crore in the corresponding period the previous year.
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