Following “arm-twisting” by BJP MLA, Birlas move Goa operations to Maharashtra

Panaji: The Aditya Birla company decided to move its bauxite handling activities to the JSW Jaigarh port in Maharashtra as a result of political meddling at the Mormugao Port by local BJP MLA Sankalp Amonkar. The Aditya Birla group’s decision to reroute its most recent delivery of approximately 1.7 lakh tonnes of bauxite has caused losses for local Goan companies, including barge owners, in addition to harming Mormugao Port Authority’s earnings.

“Bauxite has been redirected (to Jaigarh) since transportation clearance is denied upon application.

A story that said that the Aditya Birla group business Hindalco’s imported bauxite was kept at the port for more than ten days, resulting in a loss of Rs 15 crore, was front-paged by the TOI on February 14.

Even after several calls and texts, Amonkar would not respond.

A business that was scheduled to carry bauxite to the Hindalco facility in Belagavi was threatened, according to stakeholders who had protested to the port authorities about Amonkar’s “arm-twisting.”

“When Aditya Birla officials visited last month, they stated that they would be forced to relocate to Jaigarh if political meddling persisted,” the MPA official stated.

In order to transport bauxite from Guinea, West Africa, to India for use at Hindalco’s alumina facility in Belagavi, the MV Star Scarlett was chartered.

“Hindalco notified us that the vessel was redirected due to the issue that occurred the previous time. “For the business, this is a significant loss,” barge operator Raymond Desa said.

Transportation of bauxite
Not only is bauxite stranded at the port of Mormugao, but a shipment for UltraTech Cement—an Aditya Birla group company—arrived from Bankot in Raigad and has been delayed for more than eight days because the directorate of mines and geology has not granted authorization.

“This is coastal freight that is headed via Goa to Karnataka, having arrived from Maharashtra. It has spent the last eight days lying. Where is the ease of doing business, then? The official said:.

Desa predicted that Goa’s barge sector will suffer from the relocation of bauxite handling to Jaigarh port. He said that “heavy losses for port-related business” will result from the regrettable circumstances surrounding the diversion of almost 1.7 lakh tons of bauxite.

The consequences will be felt by barge owners, cargo carriers, stevedores, and contract laborers who rely on the normal flow of bauxite cargo, according to Desa.

The cargo ship was moored in MPA’s outer anchorage, and around twenty barges were being utilized to offload the bauxite from it. After that, the barges would transport the bauxite to the MPA berths for storage. Approximately three journeys would be made by each barge per day. Following its stacking at MPA’s dock, vehicles would move the bauxite to Belagavi.

“The disruptive actions that resulted in this diversion have put many involved stakeholders’ livelihoods in jeopardy in addition to impeding industry operations.” We sincerely request that the authorities look into this problem thoroughly and take the appropriate action to stop such events from happening in the future, said Desa.
Shripad Naik, the Union minister of state for ports, was recently questioned by TOI over Amonkar’s involvement in obstructing the shipment at the port. He had responded, “I will definitely look into it.”

“I have taken strong measures and given directives that business must proceed in a transparent manner, as it did in the past, after the news that TOI reported. If someone is putting up obstacles, please let me know right away, and I will take action against them. Even inadvertently, I advised the MPA chairman, no obstacles should be put in the way,” Sawant said.