Bhubaneswar, May 31: Excise minister Damodar Rout today accused the BJP at the Centre of conspiring to undermine the importance of Paradip port in order to promote a private facility in Bhadrak district.

Speaking at a news conference here, Rout said: "After the Adani group had taken over the control of Dhamara port from L&T, a section of BJP leaders at the Centre were trying hard to take away all the business from Paradip port to the advantage of Dhamra port. The state's pride, Paradip port, which was set up on the initiative of Biju Patnaik, will shortly be closed down."

Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Limited had bought Dhamra port in 2014 for around Rs 5,500 crore from a joint venture company of Tata Steel Limited and L&T Infrastructure Development Projects Limited.

"I have already apprised the chief minister about it. Now, I am trying to generate public opinion on the issue," Rout said.

He, however, made it clear that this was his individual opinion as an MLA and not as a minister in the Naveen Patnaik government.

Rout said that though the Paradip port was given the Peacock Award by the central government for its outstanding performance last year, an attempt has been made to shift the proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal from there to Dhamra port. Besides, ships are no more coming to this port. "The 12,000-strong labour force of the port is almost jobless now," he said.

The minister expressed concern over the fall in traffic at Paradip port. "It is a disturbing issue," he said.

Coming down heavily on the ministry of shipping as well as on the Paradip Port Trust, he said: "It can be verified from records that there was a waiting period of nine to 12 days for berthing at the port, and around 20 vessels were waiting at the port anchorage. But over the past one month, there has been no waiting of ships and berths are lying vacant. In contrast, the traffic congestion at Dhamra and Vizag ports continues."

He also said the Centre was least bothered about appointing a regular chairman for Paradip port. The Vizag port chairman is now in charge of Paradip port.

"Even the credibility of the deputy chairman of the port is doubtful," he said, adding that the person's tenures at Goa and Chennai ports were also controversial.

Rout also questioned the way the BJP had appointed four of its leaders as members in the Paradip Trust Board. "I don't want to go into the details of what they are doing. It is only harming the interests of the port," he said.

However, BJP leader Bijoy Mohapatra said: "The Centre is keen to develop Paradip port as a smart city. If Dama babu has any suggestions for the development of the port, he should send the proposal to the Centre."

On the appointment of BJP members in the board, Mohapatra said: "This is nothing new. During the Congress regime, at least a dozen of its members were in the trust board."

Without making any reference to Rout's criticism, the port trust today issued a statement, saying that in 2014-15, the port had achieved 71.01 million tonnes of traffic, as compared to 68 million tonnes in 2013-14. The traffic handled by the port during the financial year was the second highest among all major ports.