Customs at Mumbai and Nhava Sheva first issued public notices about the levy in 2007, but the Mumbai and Nhava Sheva Ship Agent Association (MANSA) opposed its implementation on the grounds of it being unfair. Customs put the notices in abeyance referring the matter to the office of the Director General of Shipping which decided against MANSA's argument.
Captain Dinesh Gautama of Forbes Sea Consortium and advisor to the CSLA said, “The levy is effective only at Mumbai, Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Kandla and Mundra. In our meeting with Customs on March 16, they refused to accept our argument. We have taken up the matter with the Ministry of Shipping. Customs stations at other ports, including Kochi, are now likely to follow suit and collect the light dues.”
According to sources in the shipping business, ships are already paying light dues to Customs at INR8 (USD0.2) per NRT (net registered tonnage).