Trade of petroleum products halted at Karwar port

KARWAR: Imports and exports of petroleum products in the

Karwar commercial port

have come to a standstill amidst serious complaints by local people that the port has no facilities to store and handle explosives and inflammable products. The authorities have temporarily stopped the trade of petroleum products which has affected the revenues of the port.

Preetam Masurkar, a local leader, had complained to the

chief comptroller of explosives

(CCE), Mumbai, a few days ago that Karwar commercial port has

no security arrangements

required to handle explosives. He ha d requested the CCE to stop the import of the petroleum products in the port. He had alleged that the port authorities have no certificate to handle explosives and other inflammable materials and so the import of these products are illegal. After the complaint, the deputy comptroller of explosives had directed the port authorities not to allow ships bringing petroleum products into Karwar port. After this, 'Raas Tanoor,' a ship which has brought petroleum products to Karwar port has been anchored mid-sea since the past four days.