Customs' go-slow hits cargo offtake

Mumbai: Around 50% of cargo consignments at crucial ports and air cargo were not cleared on Friday because of a "go slow" protest against Tuesday's CBI raids.
Customs officials working at air cargo, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Nhava Sheva and customs house worked only to rule and refused to clear any cargo after their specified time of work. Usually, officials stay beyond duty hours to clear both import and export cargo consignments. On Friday, though, the officials stopped working at 5 pm. The few customs staffers who report to duty on Saturday may not do so. Officials said Mumbai airport cargo could be worst affected as customs clearing was already going slow due to a new software that was installed on a trial basis.
"Now that the officials are also not clearing cargo beyond duty hours, a lot of backlog is likely to build up. It can put a load on the cargo complex to store consignments and may cause perishable items to rot," a senior airport official said. According to rough estimates, 2,000 consignments were cleared at the airport against 4,000.
15/01/11 Chinmayi Shalya/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jan 2011, Cargo Jan 2011