According to Consulate General of Nepal in Kolkata, local transporters had been obstructing loading of Nepali cargoes into containers since Monday, organizing a sit-in protest at customs yard itself.
As many as 260 Nepal-bound containers left the port until Wednesday morning. A cargo clearing agent said another 250 containers would leave the port by Wednesday evening.
According to Kolkata Port Trust, around 45,000 cargo containers enter Nepal annually via Kolkata port. While 60 percent of the containers enter Nepal through road transport, remaining come to Nepal via rail freight transport. However, there has been increase in the number of containers coming through railways in recent months due to disturbance at Birgunj entry point. Local transporters had started obstructing loading of Nepali cargoes once Birgunj route re-opened for trading.
Agents, who have been working for Nepali clearance of Nepali cargo, said local transporters were creating disturbance with the intention of levying additional transport fare. They said the transporters were backed by Janab Firhad Hakim, a member of West Bengal Legislature Assembly.
Though police force on Wednesday cleared the disturbance, Deputy Commissioner of Police Sandip Sarkar, who looks after security of Kolkata Port, has called a meeting with Nepal Goods and Transport Welfare Association and Indo-Nepal Truck Trailer Owners' Welfare Association. It has been learnt that the meeting has been called to settle issues regarding increase in transportation and demurrage charge.
Indian transporters have threatened to charge demurrage charge of up to IRs 2,500 per day per container.
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