With so many ports in the state, why is Kakinada port the only one causing trouble? Why is the waterway here becoming a venue for illegal exports and shady dealings?
–Galla S Kiran Kumar, Bureau Chiefwhile valuable lands are in the hands of others,
and the officials of key departments are in the hands of others.
Barges loaded with rice ready at the anchorage port in Kakinada
Eenadu, Kakinada: With so many ports in the state, why is Kakinada port the only one causing trouble? Why is the waterway here becoming a venue for illegal exports and shady dealings? Why has the situation come to such a point that private individuals and politicians have taken over and ruled the ports supervised by the State Government Maritime Board? The reason for this is the situation that got out of control during the five-year YSRCP rule. As key departments that were supposed to be supervised became greedy for money, the leaders who were in power gave the green light to illegal activities. They are earning thousands of crores of rupees by stealing from the mouths of the poor under the guise of rice exports to foreign countries. The illegal activities that were played like a game during the YSRCP rule are still continuing. Who are the invisible forces behind the scenes who are supporting the illegal activities? There is a debate going on as to why no steps are being taken even after the change of government except for warnings.
Illegality that crosses borders
Field-level flaws in the civil supplies system have become a source of income for some. While the government says that rice should be distributed to the poor at Rs. 43.50 per kg, some are being collected through errors in weighing and distribution, and some through street gangs. This rice, which is purchased from beneficiaries at Rs. 10 per kg, is polished in mills and transported abroad through ports, earning a handsome profit. Due to the negligence of the departments that should be monitored and the political interference, illegal stocks are reaching Kakinada from all over the state. Although everyone says that the checks of the port, customs, marine, civil supplies, tax department, transport, police, etc. are in order, there is no answer to the question of how illegal stocks are reaching the port after bypassing all these systems. Customs office employees at Kakinada port were caught by the CBI on October 5 this year in a bribery case. Even though corruption is rampant in some departments that are supposed to oversee port operations, the irregularities are not stopping due to the lack of action taken to clean up.
With the help of the piravis..
After the YSRCP came to power, it pushed the state into debt. In search of funds for the development of other ports, 337.63 acres of land belonging to the Kakinada Anchorage Port was mortgaged for Rs. 1,500 crore in 2022. Some more port land was encroached by some leaders. As the lessees operating shipping companies and cargo storage centers within the port area did not pay the lease properly to the port, the arrears accumulated in crores of rupees. With political support, they are encroaching on land beyond the leased area and conducting unauthorized activities. Officials of some departments who are supposed to monitor the ports to ensure that no irregularities are allowed are becoming business partners with benami here. There are allegations that the port authorities are behind all the irregularities. Kakinada City MLA Vanamadi Kondababu recently alleged that they are encroaching on the jetty where loading and unloading takes place in the port and conducting activities. Minister Nadendla Manohar has recently alleged that the Jagan government has tied up a majority stake in a private port to a company. The argument is being made that the government should order a comprehensive investigation to uncover the corruption, bribery and illegal dealings
