To move imported coal from Sandheads to NTPC's super thermal power plant at Farakka in West Bengal along the National Waterway Number One (NW1) will start shortly. NTPC will use the coal for power generation purpose.
An estimated 70,000 tonne of coal is said to have arrived at the Sandheads and the consignment is being transferred from the mother ship to a trans-loader which again will discharge the cargo into barges for onward movement to Farakka along the Sandheads-Farakka stretch of NW1.
As per the wishes of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI), Kolkata Port Trust has granted relief in port charges to boost cargo movement. Jindal ITF which has secured the contract for undertaking the entire gamut of operation covering unloading and river transportation of the coal has mobilised as many as 20 barges, the capacity ranging between 2,000 and 2,200 tonne each.