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AIFSC/AM/07/2007-08

30th August, 2007

To
Shri Devendra Dutt,
Member(Customs),
Central Board of Excise & Customs,
North Block, New Delhi- 110002.

Sub: Assigning the administrative control of Gangavaram Port at Visakhapatnam under the Commissioner of Customs, Visakhapatnam - reg.

Respected Sir,

The Gangavaram port at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh has been notified for “unloading of imported goods and loading of export goods or any class of such goods” by notification no. 85/2007 dt. 21 August, 2007 under section 7 of the Customs Act, 1962.

The Gangavaram port at Visakhapatnam is expected to do large trade in near future and is being considered as the future place of expansion for the Customs staff at Visakhapatnam. It is situated at across the Visakhapatnam harbour and the road distance of this upcoming port is less than 30 km from the Visakhapatnam Custom House making it fairly possible for the experienced Customs officers to attend to the Customs work of the said port.

We have raised the subject issue with the local Chief Commissioner and we were assured that it would be considered favourly. Now that an air of uncertainty to hand over the Customs job at Gangavaram Port to the Customs Officers on an unfounded ground of shortage of staff at Visakhapatnam Custom House. As you are aware that in course of liberalization over a period of time many of the Customs postings have become redundant and as a result the optimum utilization of the Custom staff can be done by re-deployment in the required areas. It is submitted that we have sufficient number of Officers at Visakhapatnam Custom House who are well-experienced with the port oriented job and they can be rationally re-deployed for making provisions for Gangavaram port from within the existing staff strength. All the Officers of Visakhapatnam Custom House are willing to attend the job at Gangavaram Port in the interest of expansion of their job opportunity, which is otherwise shrinking.

The cases of handing over the Port of Haldia to Kolkata Custom House (distance 120 kms approx.), the JNPT, Nhava Sheva to Mumbai Custom House (distance 70kms approx.) and Ennore to Chennai Custom House (distance 35 kms approx) can be cited in support of our claim to bring the Gangavaram Port under the administrative control of the Commissioner of Customs, Visakhapatnam. In all the above cited cases the limit of the geographical jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Customs did not act as hindrance to bring those ports under the administrative control of Customs in the larger public interest and in the interest of smooth working of the Port by the experienced Custom staff. The issue of jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Customs of Visakhapatnam may not therefore play as a hindrance in bringing the Port under the control of Customs at Visakhapatnam.

The copy of the representation made by the Association of Superintendent of Customs, Visakhapatnam addressed to the Chief Commissioner, Visakhapatnam is also enclosed for your kind perusal.

In view of the above, and in the interest of the expansion of job of already shrinking cadres of Superintendent of Customs and Preventive Officers, the said Gangavaram Port at Visakhapatnam may be brought under the administrative control of the Commissioner of Customs, Visakhapatnam.

Thanking you,

Yours faithfully,

(ANUPAM MAJUMDAR)
PRESIDENT

Encl: As above