Bengal Chamber asks Shipping Mininster GK Vasan to intervene on HBT exit

KOLKATA: Concerned that the exit of Haldia Bulk Terminals from West Bengal would be detrimental to the state's image, the Bengal Chamber has urged Shipping Minister GK Vasan to intervene and resolve the issue.

"This will not only adversely impact the future operations at Haldia, but more importantly the image of the state... We urge you to call the affected party's representatives with a positive stance to resolve their concerns," Bengal Chamber President Kallol Datta said in a letter to Vasan.

Copies of the letter were sent to the Kolkata Port Trust, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Industry Minister Partha Chatterjee, HBT CEO Gurpreet Malhi and ABG Infra Managing Director Saket Agarwal.

On October 31, HBT, jointly promoted by ABG group of India and French logistics company LDA, announced immediate exit from Haldia port citing unsafe work conditions.

Problems were brewing at the Haldia Dock Complex, run by Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT), after berth operator HBT sacked 275 employees last month on the ground that there was surplus staff.