Container scanning mechanism to be installed in four major ports

New Delhi, Oct 27 (UNI) The ports at Mumbai, Chennai, Tuticorin and Kandla will soon have a state-of-the-art container scanning mechanism to enhance the non-intrusive inspection capability of the customs department.

The Union Cabinet today sanctioned a sum of Rs 172.94 crore for the procurement of seven container scanning systems, including four fixed X ray and three mobile Gamma ray container scanners, for the four major ports. The equipment would be procured through a global tender.

Information and Broadcasting Minister Priyaranjan Dasmunsi told mediapersons after a meeting of the cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, that the decision would assist the customs department in the discharge of its statutory functions - collection of customs duties and other levies as well as the prevention and detection of movement, across the country's international borders of contraband goods.

He said non-intrusive inspection of cargo by container scanners would reveal discrepancies between the declaration made in the prescribed documents and the cargo actually stuffed inside the containers.

Mis-declaration of the quantity or the description of goods would lead to evasion of duty in respect of import and export of goods.

"The cutoms officers will thus be assisting in detecting cases of duty evasion, Mr Dasmunsi said.

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