Taking a cue from mishaps in the recent past because of hazardous substances lying around unnoticed, the shipping ministry, in its proposed Indian Ports Bill, has brought down the time limit for the disposal of goods from the port premises to 30 days.
Earlier, this limit extended up to 60 days. If the proposed bill is passed, it will replace the existing Major Ports Act of 1956 and Indian Ports Act of 1908.
The bill states that the port authority may, at any time after the expiration of the 30-day deadline from the date on which a notice is served sell the goods by public auction by tender, private agreement or any other manner as deemed fit.
In the case of animals and perishable or hazardous goods, the port authority will give a shorter notice for removal of such goods.
"Thirty days is enough time for any genuine fellow to move the cargo from port premises. A lot of people like to use the storage facility at the port itself by paying demurrage charges for the period beyond the time limit," a senior official in the shipping ministry said.
In an event where the deadline is likely to be missed by an importer, the port authority would issue a notice to the person concerned through the Port Gazette and a local newspaper. The notice will also be served by the agents of the vessel by which such goods were landed.
The bill also mentions, "If in any auction under Section 54 or Section 55 or by tender or private agreement if a bid/offer received is less than the reserve price if any fixed, the Port Authority may re-auction the goods within 15 days without any further notice to any person whatsoever."
Various types of hazardous substances have been lying unclaimed at the Indian ports. The chlorine gas leak incident at the Mumbai Port revealed that the gas cylinders were present at the port premises since 1983.
Kolkata Port Trust is one of the major ports which recently took the decision of auctioning the goods occupying its premises as the importer failed to take the delivery.
