Wheat, Rice, and Flour Exports from Kandla Port Delayed Due to Heavy Rainfall

Wheat, rice, and flour export shipments from the Kandla port have been delayed as a result of the recent heavy rains in Gujarat, as cargo handling of these commodities was hit due to incessant rains in the region.

According to Omprakash Dadlani spokesperson of Deendayal Port Trust (DPT) in Kandla, vessel agents are refusing to handle the consignment of these commodities. However, Dadlani said that the port's cargo handling of coal, salt, and other engineering items was unaffected.

Post the ban on exports of wheat, a large quantity of the commodities has been lying in and outside Kandla port since the last week of May. Since the government decided to permit wheat exports on a government-to-government basis, fortunately, these wheat supplies have either been moved to warehouses or shipped, said Dinesh Gupta, head of the Kandla Custom Brokers' Association.

Meanwhile, official sources at Adani Group sources said that despite heavy rain, business as usual continued at Mundra port. Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) sources also said that rain hasn't interfered with refinery operations in Jamnagar. "Our refinery area has a first-rate drainage system. As a result, the complex wasn't waterlogged. Additionally, Reliance Township and the employees' community are close to the refinery. As a consequence, even in times of severe rain, refinery employees have no trouble reporting for duty and leaving when their shift is over, according to a senior RIL executive.

Ahmedabad witnessed heavy rains up to 18 inches on Sunday and many areas in the city observed water logging problems. Industrial estates situated in and around the city were forced to shut Common Effluent Treatment Plant (CETP) for a day, informed Shailesh Patwari, a former leader of the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI). According to Patwari, who is also the chairman of Naroda Enviro Projects, there were issues with water logging at CETP zones of several industrial estates.

Ajit Shah, secretary of the Ahmedabad branch of the Federation of Industries Association (FIA) said businesses at Changodar Industrial Area were closed for a day due to heavy rains.

Sources at the Tata Motors vehicle factory added that despite heavy rainfall in the Sanand area, there was no issue with production. Although it has been raining steadily for the past three to four days in South Gujarat, which is extensively industrialized, no industrial unit has yet been shut down. The centres for the chemical, pharmaceutical, textile, and other industries in Dahej, Bharuch, Ankleshwar, Hazira, Surat, and Vapi have all been conducting business as usual.

According to Vinod Patel, an industrialist in the area, the approach roads to the Dahej industrial districts have been damaged by rain, which has caused traffic jams and slowed down the movement of trucks carrying industrial items, both raw materials as well as Finished Products.