Calcutta, March 21 :     The Calcutta Port Trust (CPT) has decided to set up a separate jetty to handle edible oil cargo, following a massive increase in the traffic of this commodity over the past two years. The port authorities will soon launch a tender to invite bids for the project in which a handful of private parties, including Essel Mining and Industries of the A.V. Birla group, are willing to participate. CPT sources said the port recorded a 62 per cent growth in edible oil cargo in April-December 1998 compared with the corresponding period of the previous year. This is likely to go up another 67 per cent this year to 4.16 lakh tonnes compared with 2.49 lakh tonnes last year. In 1997-98, the edible oil traffic grew by nearly 41 per cent from the previous year?s 1.71 lakh tonnes. A report prepared by the CPT?s traffic promotion committee has found that the edible oil cargo at the port will keep on increasing due to a drop in the consumption of mustard oil and a commensurate increase in the use of sunflower oil, soyabean oil, etc. According to the report, the port should equip itself with a separate jetty to handle the increased flow in edible oil traffic and, thus, provide better service to the importers. Edible oil constitutes the second largest chunk of traffic after POL (petroleum, oil and lubricant) at CPT which caters to the demand of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, the seven north-eastern states, Nepal and Bhutan. The CPT has also decided to revise the existing high port charges for edible oil. Currently, importers have to pay Rs 120 per tonne of edible oil if the commodity is meant for industrial use. Otherwise, the charge stands at Rs 30 a tonne. CPT sources said, ?The rates will shortly be reduced to thwart diversion of edible oil traffic from Calcutta to Paradeep where the rates are lower.? They added that CPT has no infrastructural problem except occasional delay in berthing as only one vessel can be berthed in one tide by the marine crew. The port authorities are also gearing up to provide clearance certificate quickly to ensure better service to importers.