(a) whether Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust has leased out buffer yard to an outside agency inspite of having sufficient infrastructure to operate and maintain it with the idle manpower and equipments;
(b) if so, the facts in this regard;
(c) whether this has resulted a loss of revenue of Rs. 19.79 crore;
(d) if so, whether any responsibility has been fixed by the Government in this regard; and
(e) if so, the action taken by the Government thereon?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF SHIPPING (SHRI SHRIPAD Y. NAIK)
(a) & (b): Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT) entrusted the management of Buffer Yard to M/s Central Warehousing Corporation in 1997. JNPT did not have sufficient container handling equipment (Reach Stackers and Tractor Trailers) for carrying out operations at Buffer Yard. The requisite trained and competent manpower for management and operation of Buffer Yard was not available with the port trust in 1997.
(c): No, Sir.
(d) & (e): Do not arise.