The Kakinada anchorage (old) port, languishing for the past three to four years, received a shot in the arm during 2011-12 financial year, with the Union Government deciding to lift the curbs on non-basmati rice exports.
The lifting of ban on rice exports could not have come at a better time.
From September 2011, till the end of the financial year, nearly two million tonnes of rice was exported through the old port.
The workers, steel barge owners and the trade dependent on the old port heaved a huge sigh of relief.
Other commodities
According to the Port Officer, Mr B. Adinarayana, apart from 19,82,628 tonnes of rice, 1.42 lakh tonnes of sugar was also exported from the port during the year.
Besides, 9,36,389 tonnes of maize was exported and 40,000 tonnes of cement.
On the whole, the old port handled 31.48 lakh tonnes of cargo during the year valued at more than Rs 5,800 crore.
“It is quite a creditable achievement and it was badly needed at that juncture, as the port was suffering for want of cargo,” he said.
Revenue
In all, 195 vessels sailed from the port during the year and the port earned a revenue of Rs. 24.16 crore during the year.
Expressing happiness over the revival in the fortunes of the port, the Chairman of the Cocanada Chamber of Commerce, Mr D. Surya Rao, said that nevertheless, certain infrastructural problems plagued the port during the year.
The roads leading to the port should be improved and all steps should be taken to remove bottlenecks.
infrastructural problems
Trade sources also said the State Government as well as the Union Government should take long-term measures with regard to the anchorage port and the fortunes of the port should not depend on a single commodity such as rice.
In view of the large number of workers dependent on the port, the Government should take the long-term view, it is felt.
Mr Adinarayana said steps would be taken soon to improve the infrastructure at the port.