Exporters facing losses from all stake holders

Ludhiana: Upkar Singh Ahuja, President, Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), Ludhiana in a statement said that industry in this region was already going through a lot of stress post Lockdown amidst COVID and stalled rail operations have further aggravated the situation. Taking a cue, rail operators have to start offering road bridging services.

Taking the containers by road to Inland container depots around Delhi and providing rail connectivity from there to Gateway ports such as Mundra/ JNPT.  But as the quantum of shipments is huge and owing to a deficit of bonded trucks, the region is facing a huge pendency, around 4000 export containers are believed to be stranded at various inland container depots in Punjab.

Pankaj Sharma, General Secretary, CICU emphasized that as a normal trade practice, all shipping lines are giving 10 days free time to stuff, custom seal, and handover the containers at any of the inland container depots at Ludhiana. We have been approached by a number of exporters of this region claiming that a few shipping lines taking benefit of the current situation are trying to pull a fast one on.

In a current scenario, the shipping lines are not charging any detention if the container is handed over within the stipulated time but still has to sit at Ludhiana for want of/ non-availability of trains. Industry appreciates the good gesture of the shipping lines but a few stray cases have been noted where containers though handed over on time yet due to the prevailing circumstances there was a delay in railing out of the same and a few of shipping lines are allegedly found promoting monopolistic market practices by charging detention to customers which is exploitation, unethical and unlawful activity.

Sarvjit Singh, Co-convener, CICU Export Promotion Committee said that this is a matter of concern as we all know that trains are nonoperational in Punjab and the local industry is already reeling under huge losses. The dearth of raw material has already escalated the cost of manufacturing. Prolonged delay of export containers is worrisome for exporters as it is making their Buyers go jittery over timely supplies, unable to wait any further their overseas buyers are now thinking of making alternate arrangements from other countries. This may result in the cancellation of export orders and strain their relations with overseas buyers permanently.

The objectives of the trade are the same and need to be promulgated. We call upon the erring shipping lines to abstain from exploiting the hapless exporters. It is the need of the hour for all to come together and face the tiring times collectively.