India detains 50 Bangladeshi barges loaded with fly ash
Jasim Uddin Haroon | Wednesday, 16 July 2008
Around 50 Bangladeshi barges loaded with fly ash, a raw material for production of cement, remained stranded at Kolkata port for over two weeks due to an Indian government move following sinking of a vessel.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) issued a circular July 1 restricting loading of fly ash to the full capacity of a vessel.
The circular said a barge will be allowed to load fly ash upto 70 per cent of its capacity.
But, the barges, now stranded at the Kolkata port, loaded the fly ash to their full capacity prior to the issuance of the circular, local cargo owners said.
"Our barges are not getting permission to sail from the Indian port following the circular. This is certainly creating problems in timely delivery of fly ash," said Abdul Karim, acting president of Bangladesh Cargo Vessels Owners Association (BCVOA).
Local barge owners said they are losing around 2,000 rupees each day as operating cost. Each vessel is loaded with around 500 tonnes of fly ash, vessel owners claimed.
Mr Karim said the restriction has been imposed by IWAI with ill motive and it is a violation of river protocol signed between the two countries in late 1970s.
Mr Karim said it had already raised the issue to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority for immediate resolution of the problem.
Bangladesh cement factories are largely dependant on the raw material from India and local manufacturers said it might face production disruption due to shortage of the input.
However, local cement manufacturers said the restriction might contribute to higher freight charges and help escalate the prices of the fly ash.
"We fear the prices of fly ash might rise by around $ 5.0 a tonne following the restriction on full capacity loading," said Muhammed Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement.
The Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI) issued a circular July 1 restricting loading of fly ash to the full capacity of a vessel.
The circular said a barge will be allowed to load fly ash upto 70 per cent of its capacity.
But, the barges, now stranded at the Kolkata port, loaded the fly ash to their full capacity prior to the issuance of the circular, local cargo owners said.
"Our barges are not getting permission to sail from the Indian port following the circular. This is certainly creating problems in timely delivery of fly ash," said Abdul Karim, acting president of Bangladesh Cargo Vessels Owners Association (BCVOA).
Local barge owners said they are losing around 2,000 rupees each day as operating cost. Each vessel is loaded with around 500 tonnes of fly ash, vessel owners claimed.
Mr Karim said the restriction has been imposed by IWAI with ill motive and it is a violation of river protocol signed between the two countries in late 1970s.
Mr Karim said it had already raised the issue to the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority for immediate resolution of the problem.
Bangladesh cement factories are largely dependant on the raw material from India and local manufacturers said it might face production disruption due to shortage of the input.
However, local cement manufacturers said the restriction might contribute to higher freight charges and help escalate the prices of the fly ash.
"We fear the prices of fly ash might rise by around $ 5.0 a tonne following the restriction on full capacity loading," said Muhammed Amirul Haque, managing director of Premier Cement.