Cargo handler pulls out of Haldia port after violence

Cargo handling company Haldia Bulk Terminals (HBT), a joint venture between by the ABG group of India and French logistics company LDA, today announced that it is immediately withdrawing from West Bengal's Haldia port, citing poor law and order situation leading to unsafe work conditions.
 
The company has communicated its decision to both the Kolkata Port Trust and the Calcutta High Court. A couple of days ago, three officials of the operator were forced out of Haldia, about 100 km south of Kolkata, at gunpoint in the dead of the night. HBT officials allege that the local police and district police bosses offered no help despite several calls to them.

Problems have been brewing at Haldia Dock Complex, run by Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), after berth operator HBT sacked 275 employees early this month, stating that they were redundant.
KoPT a few days ago had placed an application before the Calcutta High Court for direction to HBT to resume work since an agreement for a resolution to the impasse was already signed. But today, counsel for HBT told the court vacation bench of Justice Sambuddha Chakraborty that a letter was faxed to the port authorities informing them of its decision to pull out.
 
"With a deep sense of disappointment we have to inform you that we have been left with no option but to walk out from Haldia Dock Complex with immediate effect," HBT chief executive officer Gurdeep Malhi said in a statement. "The ever-worsening situation at Haldia has left us feeling betrayed and we hope that the elements responsible for driving us out of Haldia are brought to justice."

HBT handles cargo with mechanised cranes in berths No 2 and No 8 at the complex, and was the highest revenue-earner for Bengal's struggling Haldia dock complex. But its operations have been halted since mid-September, with retrenched HBT workers along with trade union workers agitating inside and outside the port.

HBT said on Sunday that three of its management officials and two of their family members were kidnapped by outsiders who warned them not to return to Haldia.

On Tuesday, West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee had said that full police protection was being provided at Haldia; but the operator clearly finds this assurance hollow.

Kolkata Port Trust officials said the contents of the letter sent by HBT, alleging that KoPT was not maintaining contractual obligations, was being examined. "We are looking into the legal standing and contractual validity of the letter they have sent. The allegations against KoPT are false and hence it is natural that we will contest it in court," a KoPT official said.