KOCHI: The businessmen in the Willingdon Island have their fingers crossed against the Cochin Port Trust’s decision to decline renewal of the agreements under which some land was allotted to them for setting up offices and godowns in the area.Concerned with the move, the Cochin Port Lease Holders Association has submitted a memorandum to the CPT chairman demanding renewal of the agreements. The CPT had leased out its land in Willingdon Island, for a period of 30 years, mainly to shipping companies to set up their offices, godowns and other such facilities.As per the Land Policy Guidelines, the Board of Trustees at the local port is empowered to allot the land on lease for up to 30 years on the basis of normal procedure.However, the new guidelines stipulate that allotment for long durations, even for less than 30 years, requires approval from the cabinet. “The organisation comprises of 100 lease holders. Of these, lease agreements for around 60 are going to expire. The deadline is December 2012. We hope that the issue can be solved by that time,” said Veeresh Ghona, secretary of the Lease Holders’ Association.CPT secretary Cyril C George said that the decision for not renewing the lease agreement was taken as directed by the Union Government. “The lease holders have approached the management. However, the port has to wait for further directions from the government,” he said. P M Mohammed Haneefa, secretary of one of the major trade unions at the port the Cochin Port Staff Association (CPSA) said, “We have come to know that it is a decision of the Union Government. The matter has not been discussed in the board meeting yet. In case of such a direction, the port trust should have informed the board.”“Leasing out the land for business houses generates estate revenue for the port management. The decision not to renew the lease agreement has to be discussed by the board. As per the Major Port Trust Act, it is the board of trustees which has to take a Decision on land allotment,” Haneefa added.
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