Scrap ships stuck at Ctg port
Tuesday, 23 March 2010
Doulot Akter Mala
The customs authorities have been facing difficulty in releasing the imported scarp ships at Chittagong port due to a rule in the new import policy that requires submitting environment clearance certificates from the 'country of origin'.
Nearly 20 scrap ships involving Tk 200 million in revenue are now stuck up at the Chittagong port as they do not have environment clearance certificates from the governments of the exporting country.
The import policy 2009-2012 has imposed the new rule to furnish environment clearance certificates issued by the governments of the exporting countries for release of the scrap ships from the port.
The government has imposed the rules to protect the country's environment from the scrap ships emitting toxic wastes.
Officials found the new rules difficult to implement as most of the importers bring the scrap ships from a third country. They also said there are some ships that arrive in the port carrying imported goods but later they turn into scraps.
"It is not possible to bring environment clearance certificates from the country of origin as majority of the scarp ships came from third countries," said a senior customs official at the Chittagong port.
The government can deploy officials of the environment ministry to the port to conduct a check on poisonous substance in the scarp ships, he said.
The customs will release the ships on the basis of clearance certificate issued by the local environment ministry officials, he said, stressing the need for amending the rules of import policy.
The official also found it difficult to verify environment clearance certificates from governments of the country of origin.
"Customs officials have to complete valuation process within a few minutes due to huge pressure in the port," he said.
The customs authorities have been facing difficulty in releasing the imported scarp ships at Chittagong port due to a rule in the new import policy that requires submitting environment clearance certificates from the 'country of origin'.
Nearly 20 scrap ships involving Tk 200 million in revenue are now stuck up at the Chittagong port as they do not have environment clearance certificates from the governments of the exporting country.
The import policy 2009-2012 has imposed the new rule to furnish environment clearance certificates issued by the governments of the exporting countries for release of the scrap ships from the port.
The government has imposed the rules to protect the country's environment from the scrap ships emitting toxic wastes.
Officials found the new rules difficult to implement as most of the importers bring the scrap ships from a third country. They also said there are some ships that arrive in the port carrying imported goods but later they turn into scraps.
"It is not possible to bring environment clearance certificates from the country of origin as majority of the scarp ships came from third countries," said a senior customs official at the Chittagong port.
The government can deploy officials of the environment ministry to the port to conduct a check on poisonous substance in the scarp ships, he said.
The customs will release the ships on the basis of clearance certificate issued by the local environment ministry officials, he said, stressing the need for amending the rules of import policy.
The official also found it difficult to verify environment clearance certificates from governments of the country of origin.
"Customs officials have to complete valuation process within a few minutes due to huge pressure in the port," he said.