Te... te... te.... I woke up from bed and looked around. Sun rays were coming through the glasses of nearby windows. I tried to sleep again, but continuous sound of crackers didn’t let me do that. Finally, woke up and opened the door to balcony – a small one on fifth floor of a residential building. The open part of balcony was covered with iron grills in order to prevent monkeys from entering to the room.
Oh! I forgot to say about monkeys. In our locality, even though it is tens of kilometres away from the nearest forest, is an amusement park for monkeys. Around one year back, one of my friends forgot to close a window door. They came in, opened the packets and bottles which contained food items. I think they love sugar – after all around half a kilogram of sugar packet was cleaned properly. By the way they seem to be very intelligent; apart from food items these forefathers of humans didn’t touch anything else. Now-a-days we are really missing them!!!
Grills were painted in black with a light shadow of green. Through its 5 * 5 cm square holes I could see a small kid looking towards a cracker in her father’s hand. He held the cracker over a nearby lamp for some time and finally threw it away. It exploded with a vigorous sound. I slowly walked away from the balcony and walked towards the front room. In between, I took a look towards my roommate sleeping in the room. He was trying to pull the blanket over his head so that it would cover his ears as well.
After taking bath, I walked back to the room. S. K. Pottekkad’s African travelogue was there in a corner. I slowly took it and started reading an article about his journey through Uganda. Well, it’s the time to have some breakfast. By this time, my roommate also woke up and prepared himself for going to a hotel.
From the outer gates, we took a left turn and walked towards the nearby hotel – unfortunately it was closed. So, we took a U turn and started walking. Suddenly, one lorry came and went, waking up the dust particles from the ground and comfortably placing it on our face.
Road was tarred and straight, good enough for two buses to stand side by side; but not strong enough to escape from good rains. Some metres away, there was a gutter in the middle; last time, while walking late night, I barely escaped from falling in to it. If rained, this portion of the road will transform in to a lake – 12 wide and 15 metre long. Without any water to fill her deep cuts in flesh, she looked and smiled with her bare bones.
After walking another one kilometre we finally reached in front of a number of hotels – only to see their closed doors. Two stores were open; we went in to one of them and ordered two teas. There was a hump in front of that tore. Cars were coming fast, slowing down just in front and slowly flattening her.
Milon came with two glasses filled with tea. He comfortably settled in the next chair and jumped in to his mobile for reading news. Many BMTC buses came and went. After finishing tea we walked back to room.
One the way bought some biscuits and a packet of candles. As there was nothing much to see, I started watching the movie ‘Hera Peri’. After lunch, played clips of ‘V for Vendetta’, its dialogues were very much interesting; especially when the protagonist saves the heroine in the beginning. Don’t know when I fell in to sleep.
Again it was the sound of crackers which woke me up. Sun moved towards the western ocean and night in black gown started moving in to the city. We opened candle’s pack – there were around 50 to 60 in that box. Cold wind put out some of them placed outside the door. By the way, currently city is going through one of its coldest evenings.
After lightening rest of the candles placed inside the rooms we turned the lights off. It was a beautiful sight - tens of candles were shining and spreading her warm and shiny rays across the floor. In between I put one candle on the top of a bottle containing sun flower oil only to see the top of the bottle changed in to the shape of a waterfall with a hole in the middle!!!
Divali also known as Deepavali is a festival of lights. Divali starts on Dhanteras (Dhan means wealth and Teras means 13th day) - 13th lunar day of Krishna Paksha (Dark fortnight) in Ashivin month. Celebrations will end on second lunar day of Shukla Pasha (bright fortnight) called Bhaubeej in the month of Karthik. Divali is one of the most celebrated festivals for Hindus, for Jain’s it was day Mahavira achieved salvation. Apart from Hindu’s and Jains’, Sikhs and Buddhists also celebrate Diwali – although reasons are different.
Crackers were exploding outside. We went to terrace, and looked around. Rockets from the nearby building created bright patterns on air. Below, families from nearby buildings were trying their luck with various crackers. Kids were engaged in ground wheels – this after catching fire starts rotating in the ground spitting a combinations vibrant colours. Other interesting thing for them was sparklers.
At one end, another group was putting fire to their flower pots – on catching fire, this will start emitting lights of different colours as if lava was flowing from a volcano – some will rise as high as 10 feet and then come down. Another group were engaged in lightening their rockets. One went around 150 feet over my head and disappeared in to the darkness. In the middle people were trying to explode their noisy crackers – this type will create less light but heavy sound. Needless to say they are enjoyment for eyes, bit if not used carefully then the same will turn it to a lifelong agony. Even if you use properly, you may not be able to predict the destinations of rockets. Sometimes it may not work, but sometimes it may do some unwanted work as well.
We came down from terrace and walked towards the road, unexpected explosion of high sound crackers on right side really startled me. From the road we could see the rockets flying from nearby buildings – some of the balconies were decorated with colourful electric lights. LEDs emitting red, green, blue and its combinations were hanging from the top of a building in the right side. They are very much attentive to the tunes of the wind and dancing along with it.
There is one business which is totally insulated from recession – toddy/liquor shops. Within some three hundred metres there are two outlets for alcohols. These were open today as well; irony was hotel owners didn’t feel any such urgency for remaining open.
However, roadside pani-poori stalls were open. We went there and ordered two plates pani-poori. Opposite to us, two men in their middle ages were standing - one person on red Sikh turban, other one in white shirt and grey pants. They were talking with pani-pooriwala about the way divali celebrated in different parts of India. This way pani-poori stall can transform itself to a local communication hot spot – same as in the case of local barber shops.
Back in home, there was a barber shop located on the sides of a Panchayath road. This was the only barber shop in that area – a small room with two wooden stools in the front, two benches in inner room, two rotating chairs, and large glass plates on opposite walls, upper half of the wall facing the road was full of glass windows.
There were only two barbers, disproportionate to their client size. Because of this atleast half a dozen people were waiting at any point of time except on Tuesday, which is holiday for barbers. Hair cutting is a process which takes time – unfortunate guys came in the end has to wait for long time to get a chance to sit in that rotating chair.
Those who are waiting had nothing else to do – in those days mobile phones where an unknown entity. To spent time, some would read news papers, some others will read cinema magazines, enjoys Raja Ravimarma pictures decorating the calendar pages. Some may be engaged in talking about everything happening in the village, at their work places, condition of relatives in gulf countries, their own plan to cross Arabian Sea, state politics, prices of motor vehicles, recent marriages, number of coconuts in a coconut tree, last time police jeep passed through the area, instalments for TV, LIC; what more people will even talk about their adventures in fishing at the nearby river when they were young.
By this time, we finished two plates and left them with their memories. We walked forward and entered the business area – after crossing the gates of IT companies, KFC, ATMs etc we finally reached the main road and crossed to the other side.
There was a sea of people, engaged in exploding highly noisy crackers. That narrow concrete road was covered with a layer of newspapers pieces which was the outer layer of crackers. Suddenly there was a chain of explosion on my right side. Noise was so high that, I had to cover my ears using hand.
In front of us – some 100 feet away – kids were eagerly exploding whatever came to their hand. One was in full blazers; another one was wearing white shirt and black pant, still another one standing some 10 metres away wearing a facial expression that he was not part of any thing going on. They were lightening flower pots, which in turn created a small light hill of 8 feet. Interesting these kids were trying to explode the already extinguished crackers!!! One the other side, people in their thirties were exploding noisy bombs.
On the left side, there was a middle aged lady, who was watching the activities for a long time. Finally, she took out one ground wheel and lighted it. Instead of spiral motion the ground wheel started moving towards her, at first she was calm but then started running. After having a good laugh ground wheel took the other direction.
We pulled out two chairs from a nearby juice store and watched all these for some time. Pooja were going on in the juice store. The store was filled with many sweet items, biscuits etc. Garlands made of yellow coloured flowers were put here and there. Decorated photos of god were on hanging on the wall, a small lamp was shining in bright yellow colour in front of it. After having one glass of pomegranate juice, we walked back towards the room. This time we took another way - devoid of residential areas.
After thirty minutes we again reached in front of our residential locality. From a distance itself we were able to hear the sound of exploding crackers.
On a veranda, a small girl of around 5 years was standing along with her mother and brother. She was looking towards the lights and smiling happily... This may be the message of Divali...
Sajeev
Monday, November 19, 2012
Tuesday, November 6, 2012
Indian ‘Intellectual Property Appellate Board’ revoked the patent for Roche’s ‘Hepatitis C’ drug ‘Pegasys’ – Propaganda Vs Facts
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| Pegasys - www.pegasys.com |
Board’s observations
In the decree board observed that,
1. Public interest is a persistent presence in intellectual property law.
2. It was known that, pegylation of interferon reduces in vitro antiviral activity but increases anti-proliferative activity in human tumour cells. These are all admittedly common general knowledge on the date of invention and therefore improved activity could not have been a surprise; it was expected.
3. Interferons are known and known to be bi-functional; Preparation of PEG conjugates is known; Effects of conjugation are known; Variation of tissue uptake and distribution with variance in molecular weight is known; Effects on urinary clearance and liver clearance due to variance in molecular weights of the conjugates are known.
Questions
There were two important questions before the board;
1. Whether Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust is a ‘person concerned’ or not.
2. Validity of patent for Hepatitis C medicine called Pegasys.
Intellectual Property appellate Board’s verdict
Whether Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust is a person concerned or not?
“...appellant claims that it is a society which works for the community of HCV and HIV sufferers. This is not challenged. The invention is admittedly for the use in the case of hepatitis-C. The continuance or removal of the patent will definitely affect the interest of the community for whom the appellant claims to work... if the challenge succeeds, the monopoly will be broken. This is something that the appellant is interested in, since it will bring the drug within the reach of the community for whom it works, not only because of reduction in cost, but also because of increase in supply...
...Further public interest is a persistent presence in intellectual property law and will not melt into thin air, nor dissolve. We therefore hold that the appellant who works for a community which needs the medicine is definitely a ‘person interested”
In short board reached the decision that ‘Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust’ is a person concerned.
.JPG) |
| Chemical Structure of Polyethylene glycol (PEG) |
Board observed that,
“The interferon is a pharmaceutically active protein which has antiviral and anti-proliferative activity. It was also known that interferonα2a which we are concerned with was in particular a similarly active protein with the same activity. Interferon was known to be useful to treat hairy cell leukemia and Kaposi’s sarcoma. It was active against hepatitis-C... improved activity could not have been a surprise it was expected.”
Citing the work of Somak board reached a conclusion that, Controller erred in identifying the difference while granting the patent to Roche.
Board also cited United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit’s decision on Pfizer Vs Apotex. In that case US court held that,
“...obviousness cannot be avoided simply by showing of some degree of unpredictability in the art so long as there was a reasonable probability of success. The Court held that indeed, a rule of law equating unpredictability to patentability, applied in this case, would mean that any new salt – including those specifically listed in the ‘909 patent itself – would be separately patentable, simply because the formation and properties of each salt must be verified through testing...”Board further told that,
“Monfardini which is admittedly a prior art has acknowledged that Somack et al had recommended high MWPEg for protein modification. Then the inventor cannot deny that the person skilled in the art would have known the utility of using high molecular weight while PEGylating, he would not have thought that this was restricted to enzymes alone or only to Superoxide dismutase. The utility of high molecular weight for protein modification is in the prior art. The comparison of the properties of the linear conjugated protein and branched conjugated protein was before the persons involved in the art. ”
“The specifications show experiments only with the unconjugated IFN, though this invention is said to be superior to the other conjugates and linear conjugates. For this we have no contemporaneous intrinsic or extrinsic evidence... inventor claims surprising activity when compared to other conjugated interferon which is not shown. Hence the evidence for the “surprising activity “ is not adequate.”However the Board rejected the attack on drug’s novelty. “To defeat novelty, the appellant should show that an earlier document, disclosed all that the patentee is seeking to patent. And that each limitation of the claimed invention is found in a single prior art reference. The appellant has not done this. So the attack on novelty is rejected.”
And finally board stated that, “In the end, the invention is held to be obvious. The appeal is allowed and the grant of Patent No.198952 is set aside...”
In short, patent for the drug was revoked based on board’s observation that, new drug is not a revolutionary invention as the activity of similar structures were already known.
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| 1RH2 Recombinant Human Interferon Alpha 2b - Structure |
“President (Indonesia) Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono quietly issued a decree in September 2012 authorizing government use of patents for seven HIV/AIDS and hepatitis B medicines held by the likes of Merck and Co, Glaxo Smith Kline, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Abbott and Gilead” – Asian Tribune
“...amended patent law allows Beijing to issue compulsory licenses to eligible companies to produce generic versions of patented drugs during state emergencies, or unusual circumstances, or in the interests of the public” – Asian Tribune
“...Thailand had issued 3 compulsory licenses way back in 2006/2007, for the heart disease drug clopidogrel (patent: Sanofi-Aventis’ - Plavix), HIV/AIDS drug, lopinavir/ritonavir (patent: Abbott - Kaletra), and HIV/AIDS medicine, efavirenz (patent: Merck Sharp and Dohme’s Stocrin)” – Asian Tribune
In India
“ Earlier this year (2012) in March... compulsory licencing approval... to manufacture and sell a generic version of Bayer's patented anti-cancer drug, Nexavar (to treat kidney and liver cancer) bringing down its price from INR 2.8 lakh to INR 8,880 for a 120-capsule pack for a month's therapy—a reduction of 97%. Natco will pay a 6% royalty on net sales every quarter to Bayer and is also committed to donating free supplies of the medicines to 600 patients each year. The licence will be valid till such time the drug's patent is valid, i.e. 2020.”
“Novartis appeared to suffer a setback in the Supreme Court of India in its attempt to obtain a patent for its anti-leukemia medicine imatinib mesylate, which the company markets under the brand name of Glivec" – Asian Tribune
My Remarks
1. It is easy to dump Intellectual Property Appellate Board’s decision; to set aside this particular patent is in line with strengthening India’s compulsory patent system. But I am of the view that, board reached its decision after going through evidence presented in front of it.
2. Many media outlets combined excessive cost of medicine with verdict; but it is to be noted here that, board took the social angle only in answering the question ‘whether Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust is a person concerned or not?’ Not for arriving the final verdict on drug.
3. Generic medicine is not a wholesale solution to the problem. If I am not wrong, for manufacturing generic medicine industry needs an established formula. In other words some company somewhere has to go through painstaking research, long clinical trials, maintaining qualified staff, research breakthroughs, overcoming costly failures, long drawn approval process etc. Remember that, they have to face more failures than success.
Conclusion
I am neither an expert on drug formulas nor commenting on technical validity of board's decision. Appeal court may or may not repeal board’s verdict. What I am trying to say here is, before adding this verdict to the list of India’s compulsory patent system, people should go through the judgement. Verdict’s focus is on patentee’s claims about the originality of their innovation, obviousness of drug formula, novelty of the claims etc.
For society, generic medicines may sounds good. Unfortunately, they can’t replace the original ones. Trying out hundreds of solutions for a disease, finding out a set of promising ones, trails on animals, failures, retrials, fixing on a formula, long clinical trials, administrator’s approval are long drawn process and required huge investments. But generic companies don’t have to go through all these process.
It’s not the manufacturing of tablets that costs but finding out the formula.
At the same time, we need to find a balance between society’s needs and original manufacture’s interests. We can’t allow people to die, simply because they are not able to buy life saving medicines because of its cost. According to ‘Sankalp’, Pegasys costs 4, 36,000 INR for 48 weeks (also available at a discounted price of 314,496 INR). However, you have to take this medicine along with ‘ribavirin’, which costs another 47,160.
So, government needs to find a balance between cost of medicines and generics. I believe that, compulsory patents for life saving medicines are necessary, at the same time there should be some way to compensate original manufacturing companies as well- if Intellectual property board observes that innovation is original and patent is valid.
Sajeev.
References
1. Intellectual Property Applete Board - GOI
2. Patients Overturn First Ever Product Patent On Medicine In India - Asian Tribune
3. FirstPost - India revokes Roche patent in new blow for Big Pharma
4. Peginterferon Alfa-2a - National Library of medicine
Photo courtesy: pegasys.com. wikipedia
Saturday, November 3, 2012
The brutal face of honour killings
Honour is not something which can be gained by killing their own daughters. Yet, many people are dishonouring the society by doing exactly the same.
People are raping others, pouring acid in the face, beating the victims, what more they are doing everything they can do, for a phrase whose meaning they don’t understand.
According to a recent BBC report, "A mother and father in Pakistani-administered Kashmir have been arrested for murdering their 15-year-old daughter by dousing her with acid "in the name of an honour", police say."
Reason? According to the local police officer, "girl's father became enraged when he saw his daughter "looking at two boys" riding on a motorcycle outside their home on Monday." It was enough for him to suspect that, she has an illegitimate relation with one of them.
He took her inside, thrashed her and poured acid over her with the help of his wife. The cruellest part is yet to come, until next morning they didn't take her to hospital. Just imagine the degree of pain that little girl suffered during that interval. In this serious condition - with 35% burns - she lasted till next day evening.
According to Human Rights Commission of Pakistan, in last year alone 943 women were killed in the name of honour.
Honour has many different meanings, but killing own daughter based on wildest imagination is not one of them. If parents’ imagination is taking this outrageous turns, then there will not be much daughters left to live.
Sajeev
Reference
1. BBC - Girl killed in Pakistani-administered Kashmir acid attack
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) Crisis – Triangle love story of Haldia Bulk Terminals pvt Ltd (HBT), Workers and Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT)
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| Haldia Dock Complex Office |
In this situation, it will be quite meaningful to go through what happened at HDC.
Kolkata is blessed with its geographical position; it became a natural gateway for eastern India and Himalayan countries (Nepal and Bhutan). However, simply having geographical advantage will not produce any results, unless backed by firm and decisive actions on ground. Unfortunately, recent developments in Haldia Dock are not sending any encouraging signal for industries interested in West Bengal.
Dredging and silting
According to a TOI report, HDC’s problems started when administration “... stopped bothering about dredged silt being dumped back in the water.” This got worse in 2008, when draught level fell in to an all time low. Construction of a pipeline from Paradip to Haldia by Indian Oil Corporation, cutting Haldia port in between also slashed a part of its traffic.
HBT obtains the contract
At this point, Kolkata port trust (KoPT) decided to go for mechanised handling of cargo(at berth 2 & 8) and awarded a 10 year contract to ABG Infralogistics in 2009. “Accepting the terms, HBT invested around 150 crores on acquisition of modern handling equipment, such as six mobile harbour cranes, 50 dumpers, 26 payloaders and other equipment, and creating certain facilities before starting operation in September 2010”.
However, it was not a smooth sail for the company. Rates posted by company were low; on top of that, amount of cargo coming to HDC itself showed a declining trend. In addition to that, “for nearly six months the handling equipment(s) for the berths were not allowed to enter the dock by a section of workers. Only a court order directing administration to provide police escort saved the situation” – This may be a trailer for what was in store.
Crisis
According to Statesman, “The crisis at Haldia port erupted about a month ago (in September) when HBT threatened to suspend operations at berths 2 and 8 because they were losing money.”
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| Kolkata Port Trust |
KoPT took the issue to Kolkata High Court; on September 12 both parties reached an agreement.
Two important points in agreement were,
"1) Dry Bulk vessels calling in at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC, KoPT) for cargo handling operations will be allocated to berth 2 or 8. However, if both... 2 & 8 are engaged in ship-shore operations... next arriving vessel may be allocated to berths other than 2 or 8 of HDC.
This will be implemented without affecting; a. the existing Minimum Guaranteed Tonnage (MGT) offered by BOT berth operators at HDC's Berth nos.4A & 12... b. the existing marketing agreement entered into between the BOT operator for berth no.4A.
2) KoPT will maximize the utilization of HBT's equipment by relocating them from Berth No.2 & 8 for working at other berths when Berths No.2 & 8 are vacant..."
However, this doesn’t go down well with workers in HDC’s non-mechanised berths. They objected and tried to block this arrangement. Hindustan Times reports that, “Trinamool backed workers of private handling agencies obstructed the HBT operations from September 15”
Sacking 275 workers
Problems got worse when, HBT sacked 275 employees on September 24 (in some reports date is 25). Company also terminated a sub-contractor, under whom 450 others were working. According to Hindu Businessline,
“In a statement, Gurpreet Malhi, chief executive officer of HBT, said: “In view of the continuing losses and unrest created by certain factions which is affecting operations, HBT had decided to right-size its workforce with the retrenchment of 275 personnel from September 24.” The company said the unions forced regular employment of 650, when requirement for the operation was 350 workers. The company also employs 350 contractual workers. The port authorities, however, said they were not intimated about the decision.”
Suspension of work at HBT controlled berths
Citing law and order problems, company suspended work on berths 2 and 8 from September 25 onwards.
Ultimatum from Kolkata Port Trust (KoPT)
The KoPT board of trustees met on October 11, and issued an order asking HBT to restart the operation within a week. Apart from this KoPT also issued a tender (MTO/G/HBT/1/2012) for the evacuation of stored cargo at the HBT- operated berths.
HBT going to court
HBT again approached Calcutta High Court saying that, “275 workers the company sacked and some manual labourers were not allowing work at the two mechanised berths (2 and 8) it operates at the Haldia port. The petition said the police had failed to provide HBT employees adequate security”.
Surprisingly, in reply state government pleader told that “Everything is peaceful there (Haldia port). HBT and the port authorities are trying to malign the government," – Telegraph.
Telegraph report further states that “During a visit to Haldia earlier this month, Mamata Banerjee had said the situation at the port was under control”
Later, “Haldia Bulk Terminal deposited Rs 17.5 lakh to East Midnapore district administration for ensuring security for their cargo operations at the port as directed by the Calcutta High Court”
It looks like this measure didn’t bring any real improvement in the ground. “... although they had provided the money to ensure security, not a single senior police officer visited the dock complex, despite repeated complaints of disruption in operations.” – Indian Express, Oct 27.
Kidnapping
On October 28, company told that, “... its three management officials and two of their family members were kidnapped early morning and later released, adding that there has been a complete law and order breakdown at Haldia dock complex.”
Following this incident ABG-LDA decided to pull out from west Bengal, alleging a complete breakdown of law and order in Haldia port.
Equipments
According to the latest developments, KoPT stated that, HBT won’t be allowed to withdraw its equipments (currently worth around 140 crores); in case of termination of contract KoPT will also try to claim financial damages for rest of contract years. It is yet to see how far KoPT will succeed in this, if Calcutta High Court allows HBT to terminate its operations because of law and order situations.
Government’s reply
Most of the time state government was in a mode of denial. West Bengal CM said, “It is the false propaganda of the CPI (M), Congress and media because they are jealous of the industrialisation in Bengal...”. “ We have given full police protection. The CPI (M) is running a misleading campaign along with one or two media houses for their self interest”.” "Nothing has happened in Haldia. Everything is peaceful there. The administration and police are doing their work. A section of the media with vested interest is exaggerating things and trying to malign the government,"
According to NYDaily news, “East Midnapore Superintendent of Police... rubbished the allegations, saying "investigations have proved nothing to suggest abduction".
My remarks
Notwithstanding all media reports, allegations and counter allegations, it is difficult to understand what actually went wrong in Haldia. Whether it’s the business model adopted by HBT as accused by workers and KoPT or union problem and law and order issue as accused by HBT?
Statement of East Midnapore Superintendent of Police, “investigations have proved nothing to suggest abduction” is more confusing and making the matter complicated.
However there are certain things I like to point out,
1. Standoff at HBT operated terminals was not started today or yesterday. It commenced when people hindered the passage of HBT equipments to HDC two years back. Government had adequate time to prepare and find a solution.
2. Excessive union involvement needs to be checked. If we can believe company version and various reports, then why HBT was forced to accept more workers than it required?
3. Isn’t it the profession of companies to attract more business, in this case traffic, rather can asking administration to give them more cargo because they have more processing capacity?
4. Reduction of traffic at Haldia was a sign of a much bigger issue, which needs a through follow up. Look at Singapore, it’s a small country - Haldia planning area (761.26 sq. km) itself is slightly larger than entire Singapore (710 sq.km)- with very less hinterland to serve. Still they developed the land to such an extent that, Port of Singapore is the second biggest port in the world. In this case KoPT, West Bengal Government and other concerned parties needs to sit together and find solution. Instead of redirecting cargo from one berth to another.
5. What Police was doing, when it become clear that situation can attain much bigger proportions? According to reports company even deposited 17.5 lakh for deployment.
6. HBT is not the only private operator in Haldia. Tata Martrade International Logistic Ltd (TMILL) operates berth 12. Berth 4A coming under 'International Sea Ports India Pvt' on BOT basis. In both cases, contracts are for 30 years and allotment was done on 2002. I am very much eager to know, what is happening in these berths?
7. ABG is not a new comer in the league. They are already operating in many other Indian ports. It will be better for the company to sit back and check what went wrong in Haldia? Whether it’s only a law and order problem or their business projections also went wrong?
8. Why government is in perpetual denial mode? If administration is not at all accepting the existence of a problem, then how we are going to find a solution for that? If you close your ears, then you may not hear the voice, but it doesn’t mean that there is no voice outside.
Conclusion
One of the major problems here is dwindling traffic at Haldia. This issue has direction connections with consumer/ industrial output generated by West Bengal. If WB is not able to (or atleast trying to) generate more demand and transform themselves as an industrial hub, then they have to live with dwindling traffic.
As, many more ports started operating on eastern shores of India, Kolkata no longer remain as east India’s single gateway.
Rightly or wrongly, West Bengal is getting branded as grave yard of business. Government has to walk the extra mile to remove that tag, Instead of closing the eyes and saying that nothing happened.
Sajeev.
References
1. Kolkata Port Trust
2. Haldia Dock Complex
3. Ministry of Shipping, GOI
4. Ministry of Finance, GOI
5. Wikipedia
6. The Hindu Businessline
7. Times of India
8. Hindustan Times
9. The Statesman
10. Kolkata High Court
11. MSN
12. IBN Live
13. Indian Express
14. Telegraph
15. Kolkata Port and its Docks (Kolkata and Haldia) - Astitva - Search for an Identity
16. Protests on, HBT pays Rs 17.5 lakh to administration for security - Indian Express
17. Haldia Bulk Terminal moves court against KoPT - Hindu Businesline
18 CM accuses media of fabricating Haldia row - Asian Age
19. Officials, kin ‘abducted’ at Haldia dock - Indian Express
20. Mamata blames CPI-M, media for Haldia deadlock - Business Standard
21. Mamata says Haldia row 'exaggerated', opposition slams her - NYDaily News
Photo Courtesy: Haldia Dock Complex, Kolkata Port trust, Wikipedia
Kolkata Port and its Docks (Kolkata and Haldia)
History
Ports of Kolkata are one of the oldest operating ports in India. This riverine port was constructed by English East India Company. After the fall of East India Company and takeover of Indian administration by British Government, these ports came under port commission in 1870. During Second World War, Kolkata became a critical port and suffered two bombing campaigns of Imperial Japanese forces.
From 1947 to 1975, Commissioner for Kolkata port was responsible for its operations. Afterwards, ‘Major Port Trusts Act - 1963’ extended to Kolkata Port and it came under ‘Board of Trustees of the Port of Calcutta’.
However from 1947 to 2000 many things occurred in this part of India. Because of partition, Kolkata Port lost a big chunk of its hinterland as eastern portion of Bengal broke away from India and joined Pakistan. West Bengal’s economic stagnation only aggravated its woes. However, 2000s economic recovery of West Bengal and infrastructure projects gave it necessary momentum to revitalize.
Kolkata still function as gateway for Eastern India and serves a vast hinterland which comprises West Bengal, Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, rest of Eastern India and two Himalayan countries - Bhutan and Nepal.
Port Structure
Kolkata port trust manages two dock systems,
1. Kolkata Dock System (KDS)
Located on left bank of Hooghly River, this port is 203 km upstream from sea. KDS consists of Kidderpore Docks (18 berths, 6 moorings, 3 dry docks), Netaji Subhas Docks (10 berths, 2 moorings, 2 dry docks), Budge River moorings (6 petroleum wharves), Diamond Harbour and Sandheads.
2. Haldia Dock System (HDS)
This system consists of 12 berths, 3 oil jetties, 3 barge jetties and Haldia Anchorage etc.
In addition to this, many other major and minor riverine jetties and ship breaking berths are present in this area.
Traffic Handled by major ports (2005-06 to 2011-12)
According to the reports from Ministry of Shipping, traffic handled by Kolkata port increased from 10.8mn tonnes in 2005-06 to 12.23mn tonnes in 2011-12. In the same period traffic handled by Haldia fell from 42.33mn tonnes to 31.01mn tonnes. In 2009-10 alone, Haldia saw a stunning fall of 8.41mn tonnes in its traffic.
Please see the details below – numbers are in million tonnes.
Other major port parameters
Average Turnaround time:
This parameter showed significant improvement from 11.9days in 1990-91 to 6.21 days in 2010-11 for Kolkata. For Haldia also turnaround time decreased from 6.47days in 1990-91 to 4.45 in 2010-11.
According to the report from Kolkata port trust, turnaround time still maintains its improving trend. In 2012 April-September quarter, turnaround time in Kolkata was 4.62 days; in Haldia it was 3.73 days (for same quarter in 2011, numbers were 5.29 and 4.15 respectively).
In fact all major ports in India are showing progress in this area, on average turnaround time improved from 8.10 in 1990-91 to 5.29 in 2010-11. Unfortunately, compared to world’s biggest ports this number is still high. For Singapore Port – second biggest in the world – turnaround time is less than 12 hours.
Average Pre-Berth detention time:
This parameter turned worse from 0.9days in 1990-91 to 1.23 in 2010-11 for Kolkata; and from 1.66days in 1990-91 to 3.73 in 2010-11 for Haldia. At all India level also, this parameter showed a slight increment from 2.16days in 1990-91 to 2.32days in 2010-11.
However, in April-September quarter of 2011, these numbers were 0.74 and 2.93days for Kolkata and Haldia; for the same period in 2012 it was 0.63 and 1.95 days for Kolkata and Haldia respectively. Good improvement compared to previous years data.
Average Output per Ship berth day (in tonnes)
For Kolkata Docks this parameter recorded a manifold jump from 560 tonnes in 1990-91 to 2253 in 2010-11. However, for Haldia it was not so encouraging one – from 5659 tonne in 1990-91 to 6563 tonnes in 2010-11.
For Kolkata in 2010-11 April- September quarter it was 2582 tonnes and for same period in next year the number showed and improving trend and reached 2996 tonnes. For Haldia, the numbers were 6704 and 6431 tonnes respectively.
All India level, over a period of 21 years ‘average output/ship berth/day increased from just 3372 tonnes (1990-91) to 10917 tonnes in 2011-12.
Conclusion
Eventhough we have a lengthy coastline, a number of ports and a huge hinterland to serve our parameters are nowhere close to world’s best ones. There is no wonder that, none of Indian ports appeared in world’s top 20 list. Ironically, a country whose size is less than one of our port cities – Haldia Planning area – stands second on the list!!!
Sajeev
References
1. Kolkata Port Trust
2. Haldia Dock Complex
3. Ministry of Shipping, GOI
4. Ministry of Finance, GOI
5. Wikipedia
Photo Courtesy: Wikipedia
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