Even though Union Minister for Shipping, Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari has issued an instruction that no contract can be awarded in port-related works without floating tenders, a section of the Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT) is trying to scuttle the process, said senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Chandan Mitra here on Thursday.
He also said that the Union Shipping Ministry “dissolved port advisory committees in 12 major ports (including Kolkata Port) in the country.”
Mr. Mitra accused a section of the KoPT of trying to scuttle the Centre’s effort to curb corrupt practices in the Kolkata Port and said “they do not want transparency in the process.”
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He alleged that gross financial irregularities were taking place in the Kolkata Port as a “particular company” is being awarded contracts for loading and unloading of cargoes and stevedoring without going through the tendering process. He claimed that a “handful of contractors close to the ruling party in the State was involved in such illegal deeds.”
The Shipping Ministry in its letter dated June 17, 2014 had asked the KoPT chairman to explain whether the rates charged by handling agents were approved by the Board of Trustees of the port Authorities.