Boat owners urges CM's intervention in formulating policy

Kakinada, Mar 6 (UNI) Kakinada Cargo Boats and Steel Barge Owners Association would meet the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and impression him to formulate a policy to distribute various types of cargoes to be handed both by the anchorage port and the deep water port.

A writ petition, filed by the Association in 1999, had failed in getting a specific direction from the High Court, preventing the diversion of traditional cargo to the deep water port from the age old anchorage port.

While disposing the nine-year old writ petition on February 13, Justice G Yetirajulu ruled that the policy decision has to be taken by the State government and it is not the jurisdiction of the court to formulate any policy or to issue any directions regarding the manner in which the cargo has to be handled.

The Judge has directed the cargo boat owners represented by the body, Port of Kakinada Harbour Crafts Pool, to submit a representation to the State government seeking a policy decision on clear cut demarcation of the cargo to be handled by both the ports.

The court has also directed the State government to examine the representation and pass appropriate orders according to law, within six months from the date of representation.

Now the cargo boat and steel barge owners and the workers were in a dilemma on the future course of action, as already important cargoes such as clinker, iron ore, wheat were diverted to the deep water port depriving their livelihood, Association President Bollapragada Ramamurthy, told UNI here today.

''We will decide our course of action in the light of the court's directive,'' he added.

As a last resort, he said, they would call on the Chief Minister seeking his intervention.

He hoped that Dr Reddy would keep up his four year old election promise on safeguarding the interests of anchorage port and thousands of families depending on it.

UNI XR/BR RL AS2028