The new ‘Eden Channel’, located west of the Auckland Channel in the Hooghly river, will be opened on a trial basis in April, according to Mr Mukul Roy, Union Minister of State of Shipping. The full-fledged operation at the new channel will start in October, he pointed out.

The opening of the new channel will help solve the problem of
navigability at the Haldia Dock, he said. The dock frequently faces
problems because of heavy siltation of the Auckland Channel.

Addressing the 52nd Annual General Meeting of the Calcutta Customs
House Agents’ Association here, Mr Roy said, “We are searching for more
effective dredgers to be deployed at the Eden Channel.” This was
despite the fact that a number of dredgers were already deployed at
site, he added.

EOIs received

The Ministry recently received expressions of interest (EoIs) from
private players for developing the proposed port at Sagar Island for
handling dry bulk cargos and containers, he pointed out. “We are
analysing the proposals,” he said, adding that nearly 700 acres was
needed to set up the project. The Ministry was also in talks with the
West Bengal Government for 1,000 acre to set up a jetty at Salukkhali,
he said.

Consolidation policy

The Shipping Ministry will hold a meeting this week with the Defence
Ministry to solve the land issue related to the setting up of a jetty
at Diamond Harbour, Mr Roy said.

Of the 130 acres required for the project at Diamond Harbour, 50 acres
was lying with the Defence Ministry, he said, adding that the Defence
Ministry would be offered alternative land at Raichak.

The Shipping Ministry would soon come up with a policy on consolidation
of land in and around the Haldia Port, Mr Roy said. “We have given
instructions to the land managers and have asked for a status report
from them on the land holding pattern in the area,” he said.

Mr A. Majumder, Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), said it was
necessary to have higher capacity barges for operation in the Hooghly
river rather than more number of smaller capacity barges. “Too many
barges lead to congestion in the river,” he said.

Source: The Hindu Business Line

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