Barge Problems

Barge-loading of fly ash for exports to Bangladesh has been going on at private jetties on the Hooghly under the Kolkata Dock System but never before the sinking of a barge carrying fly ash in the Hooghly has caused so many furores. A Bangladeshi barge chartered by a Kolkata company sank in the river more than two weeks ago while loading fly ash. Apparently, the barge was in a bad shape.

The KDS authorities immediately stopped loading of other, similar barges but pleaded helplessness pointing out that the clearance to the barges was given by the inland waterways authorities. Environmentalists are upset because they fear the river water would get contaminated on some stretches. A salvage company has been pressed into service to pull the barge out. Meanwhile, the reports have it that the KDS authorities have been asked by the West Bengal government to rescind its order and allow resumption of the barge-loading.