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Plea to open Tuticorin port for edible oil import

Our Bureau

CHENNAI, May 20

THE All-India Edible Oil Manufacturers, Traders and Consumers Association (AIEOMTCA) has urged the Central Government to designate Tuticorin port as an entry point for import of edible oils.

In a representation to the Director-General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Mr N.L. Lakhanpal, the Association has said exclusion of Tuticorin port as a point of entry was against the interest of trade and consumers.

In a similar representation to the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Ms Jayalalitha, the association has called upon the State Government to take up the issue with the Centre.

In their representations the trade said restriction of traffic at the Tuticorin port would affect the economy of Tuticorin district and the viability of the port. Further, diversion of traffic to Chennai port would aggravate the congestion problem, accor ding to the representation.

In addition to edible oil, Tuticorin port would also lose traffic of other items like cashew and cotton. This in turn would affect trade in Karnataka and Kerala. Apart from the traders, the order restricting imports would affect the livelihood of those d ependent on the port for employment, the representation said.

Consumers would also suffer because import through Chennai port also would mean additional transport cost to cover the southern districts. Edible oil would become dearer by Rs 2 per kg if imports through Tuticorin was not permitted, they said.

According to one leading importer, Tuticorin has emerged a major entry point for edible oils. Traders had developed storage and transport infrastructure at high costs. Whereas, the Chennai port had been plagued by heavy congestion, labour problems, lack of storage facilities and high transaction cost.