Push for cargo storage transfer

AVIJIT SINHA, TT, Siliguri, Oct. 28: The Siliguri Jalpaiguri Development Authority has asked the Airports Authority of India to take over a perishable cargo storage the SJDA set up at the Bagdogra airport six years ago at a cost of Rs. 7.55 crore as the facility didn't function for a single day.

The decision comes after the Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) mentioned in its compliance audit in March that the project had been a non-starter because of lack of initiative by the SJDA.

Today, Sourav Chakraborty, the SJDA chairman, told a news conference: "A meeting has been convened by the state urban development department in Calcutta on November 4. We will attend the meeting where discussions would be held on handing over the Centre for Perishable Cargo to the AAI. As far as we know, the AAI representatives will be present at the meeting and necessary modalities can be worked out then."

Rakesh Sahay, the airport director of Bagdogra, said the AAI could use the storage for all products.

"We want the facility (comprising machineries and storage area) to be used as a general cargo depot. Using it only as a depot for perishable cargo will not work as the Bagdogra airport has handled only 10kg of such commodities in the past six months," he said.

"We need more space for cargo and the SJDA's facility can be of use. It is up to the state and the SJDA to decide if the storage centre could be transferred to us permanently or on lease. We will attend the meeting on November 4 and hope there will be a fruitful result," Sahay added.

A senior AAI official in Calcutta said export of perishable products from Bagdogra airport was not much because of lack of infrastructure.

"Exporters find it difficult to send perishable products to Europe or Gulf countries, where the demand for Indian fruits, flowers and vegetables, is high because of lack of connectivity. Only if the connectivity improves can the new facility be utilised," said the official.

The SJDA had taken up the perishable cargo storage project in September 2005 and took financial assistance from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). The plan was to create an integrated facility for perishable products like fruits, vegetables and flowers, like orchids at the airport.

"The facility was planned for agricultural and horticultural produces which would be received, weighed and stocked at the centre, followed by customs clearance, examination and security check," a source said.

The SJDA had acquired 3.91 acres by spending Rs 75 lakh for the storage which was set up at a cost of Rs 6.68 crore.

The construction completed in March 2010.

According to the CAG, the SJDA had also spent Rs 11.73 lakh as power costs for the project from July 2012 to April 2014.

In October 2010, the SJDA entered into an agreement with the Container Corporation of India Limited (CONCOR) for operation and management of the centre and in February 2011, it was handed over to the CONCOR.

"Even then, the project did not become operational as the SJDA couldn't get necessary licences and permissions from the statutory authorities," said the source.