Customs holding up demand for scanners, says Port Trust

The recent terror attack in Mumbai might have forced the government to tighten the security in country’s ports, but ironically the Kolkata Port Trust’s (KoPT) longstanding demand of installing scanners at Haldia and Kolkata port to check containers is far from turning into a reality.

The recent terror attack in Mumbai might have forced the government to tighten the security in country’s ports, but ironically the Kolkata Port Trust’s (KoPT) longstanding demand of installing scanners at Haldia and Kolkata port to check containers is far from turning into a reality. Reason: delay in receiving clearance from the customs department.

Sources in KoPT say that they have been in talks with the Customs department for more than a year and a half about getting the scanners installed but the latter has taken no initiative on their plea. “The KoPT has been asking them to install the scanners. They have also been given land within the port premises. KoPT has also got soil testing done as was demanded by the Custom department, yet nothing has happened so far,” said an official.

Once installed the scanners will play a pivotal role in ports’ security as it will scan the cargo stacked within the steel containers. At present only Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) in Mumbai has a container scanner.

A pair of scanners cost around Rs 20 to 30 crore. Officials say that to properly scan all containers each port would require around five to six such scanners. The scanner in Mumbai port was installed after the 9/11 attacks in the US. There were plans to install scanners in Chennai and Kolkata ports, subsequently.

The Mumbai attack has fuelled urgency among the KoPT officials and they are taking no chances. Security has been further tightened and new measures like inclusion of a dog squad, a bomb squad and installation of CCTVs will soon be adopted. So far, the port authorities relied on Kolkata police for the bomb squad but following the recent terror attacks the port authorities have been asked to develop their own bomb squad.

The CCTVs will be operational by June next year in both the ports and the dog squad is expected to complete its training by March.

Besides, the KoPT will soon introduce biometric card entries into its facilities both in the dock as well as the administrative building. So far only the JNPT has provision for biometric entry. But by next year nearly 6,000 employees of KoPT are expected to get their own biometric cards with their individual finger prints.

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“We are trying to restrict the entry of people into the KoPT premises, and with this card only the concerned person will be able to enter the port. Moreover, we are also dividing the dock into different zones and are trying to limit the entry of individuals to their own zone,” said Anup Kumar Chanda, Chairman, Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT).

The most important thing, Chanda said, was to improve the communication system between the port and the vessel and also train the manpower in such a way that they are able to quickly move to any location in case of any incidents.