NEW Mangalore Port's stevedores have made a plea to the Ministry of Shipping (MoS) to help withdraw the Tariff Authority for Major Ports (TAMP) order augmenting port rentals with retrospective effect from February 2007.
In this regard, Mr S. Shekhar Pujari, President of New Mangalore Port Stevedores (NMPS), told MoS that his Association was surprised by the order, which hiked rentals from 50 per cent to 84 per cent on paved, unpaved and covered areas on long-term and short-term basis.
While elucidating that it would not be possible for the Port users to recover increased rentals from importers/exporters since many of the work orders and contracts were time-bound, the NMPS pointed out that the resultant decision by some Port users to shut shop and others not to use NMPT, would lead to a heavy burden on handling agents/stevedores.
The memorandum contends that even though the Port submitted its request for hiking rates to TAMP in March 2007, it only submitted its valuation report on July 17, 2009. Apprising that TAMP issued the new order dated July 23, 2010 giving the highest ceiling rates, the memorandum pointed out that the order was given a continuous extension till September 30, 2010 after its expiry on February 20, 2007.
The memorandum claimed that TAMP had informed NMPS that only the Port had the authority to cut the exorbitant rentals/suitable charges. However, till date, it had not taken any decision on the issue and instead was insisting the Association pay the rentals retrospectively w.e.f. February 20, 2007, it alleged.
The memorandum laid the blame for the delay in fixing the rentals on the Port and TAMP for dragging their feet on the issue.Source : Exim News Service - MANGALORE, Sept. 8
No comments:
Post a Comment