Cargo handling resumed on Thursday afternoon at Kakinada old (anchorage) port after four/five days of heavy downpour. Rice exports, already hit by the poor infrastructure at the old port, suffered further setback due to the rains, according to trade sources.
At present, more than 25 ships waiting to lift rice and maize for export have been hit. According to Vinod Agarwal, the president of the AP Rice Exporters’ Association, the approach roads to the port are in a complete mess and there are not enough jetties at the port to facilitate loading of rice into the barges.
“Rice exports are the lifeline of the old port, on which 10,000 workers are dependent. Unfortunately, the State Government is not evincing interest in creating infrastructure at the port. There are too many bottlenecks,” he complained.
He said paddy farmers in the State would benefit greatly if the State Government creates the necessary infrastructure at the old port to facilitate speedy exports. “In a month or two, the kharif crop will start arriving in the market in the Godavari districts and it will be of help to farmers if rice exports are quickened,” he said.
D. Surya Rao, the president of the Cocanada Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber had urged the State Government about the poor infrastructure at the old port and the necessity of taking urgent remedial measures. “The State Government has agreed to sanction Rs 5 crore for these measures and we are hopeful they will be initiated as quickly as possible,” he said.
Cargo handling at the new deep water port also suffered to some extent during the past four days due to the heavy rains. Urea unloading was hit.