Chinese nationals working at Dhamra port leave Odisha

Bhadrak/Bhubaneswar: Ten Chinese nationals working at Dhamra Port Company Limited (DPCL) in Bhadrak district violating visa rules left Odisha on Monday night.

Two days ago, the State government had slapped ‘Leave-India’ notice on them as per the order of the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).

According to reports, all 10 Chinese workers who have been working at DPCL under a Thai company reached China Consulate in Kolkata last night.

Initially, 19 Chinese nationals came to Bhadrak and worked under the Thai company on DPCL’s expansion project. Meanwhile, nine of them have already left the state.

They were mostly working on soil testing for the expansion project of the Port and staying outside the Dhamra Port Company Limited campus. They were staying in a rented house in Bhadrak district, a port insider said.

The government action in this regard came as the foreigners were found engaged in work at a place close to the missile-launch facility at APJ Abdul Kalam Island, earlier known as Wheeler’s Island.

Talking to OTV today, former Indian Ambassador, the Indian Embassy or the Government of India should have been cautious while granting visa to these Chinese nationals.

“Since this is a minor issue, I don’t think that this will affect relationship between India and China. On the other hand, police should investigate into motive of these Chinese nationals who had stayed in India for over five months,” he pointed out.

About the stay of these Chinese nationals at Dharma, Satyananda, a house owner said the SS Construction company had given him an advance amount of Rs 50,000 to give his house on rent to accommodate these Chinese nationals. There were 18 Chinese nationals staying in my house. Initially, seven Chinese nationals were staying in my house. Later 11 Chinese nationals stayed with them,” he added.

Director General of Police (DGP) KB Singh said 19 Chinese nationals had come to Dhamra for work of which nine had come in tourist visa while the rest had come in business visa. “Since as per rules, they should not be provided employment in the country, the MHA, therefore, had directed them to leave the country,” he added.