400 containers with scrap metal imported from Dubai stuck at Ludhiana dry port: industrialists
A delegation of industrialists met the Commissioner of Customs, Ludhiana over the issue.
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Though Gohil assured of early clearance, but industrialists are apprehensive about ground rent and shipping charges. (Express photo) A delegation of industrialists Friday met the Commissioner of Customs, Ludhiana, Vrindaba Gohil, over the issue of metal scrap containers being held up at Dhandari Kalan dry port in the district.
Metal scrap in 400 containers has been imported from Dubai but they have been held back by the customs officials. The containers have been lying at the dry port for a period ranging from 15 days to three months, industrialists said. Though Gohil assured of early clearance, but industrialists are apprehensive about ground rent and shipping charges.
North India Induction Furnace Association President KK Garg said, “About 25 industrialists have imported scrap from Dubai. However, the containers were held back at dry port by customs department on the pretext that scrap export has been banned by Dubai. India, however, hasn’t banned scrap import. The Commissioner of Customs has assured us of early clearance with a minimum penalty. But as containers are stuck at dry port, we will have to bear the penalty imposed by the shipping department till the time the containers are not sent back. In addition, we have to bear the ground rent of port as well”.
Garg said if the customs department waives the penalty or reduces it to the minimum, it will come as a huge relief to the industrialists.
Pankaj Sharma, president, the Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU ), expressed gratitude to Gohil for assuring fast clearance of containers. Sources within the customs department said that the containers have been held back as the scrap metal has been imported from a country that has banned its export.
Garg, however, said, “We have written to Union Minister Piyush Goyal that scrap is in shortage in India and we should be allowed to import it from anywhere. It is undue harassment to the induction furnace industry, which is already under stress due to hike in power tariff and groundwater extraction charges by Punjab government”.
The delegation of industrialists also included Sandeep Jain, Vice-president of North India Induction Furnace Association; Sanjay Gupta, finance secretary, ATIU, and others.
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