The Hindu Business Line : Unions seek probe into Mattanchery wharf incident

MAJOR trade unions in Kochi port have demanded a detailed inquiry into the caving in of a berth at the Mattanchery wharf recently resulting in the sinking of salt in the channel.

The Cochin Port Employees' Organisation, affiliated to CITU, has pointed out that the incident occurred due to alleged violation of rules and regulations with regard to unloading of consignments at the port. It said cargoes like salt should be unloaded directly onto trucks and moved to godowns.

Contrary to the rule, the consignment was directly discharged at the berth and kept there for a long time before clearance. The overloading of the cargo in the berth led to the disaster, the union said.

The union alleged that the port management was ignoring security norms under the pretext of liberalisation policies adopted in the port sector in recent times. The consignments are often unloaded directly onto the berth to enable speedy return of the ships. The port authorities are not taking any interest in moving out the unloaded consignment in a time-bound manner. In view of this, the port is losing revenue on accountof wharfage and other related accounts, it alleged.

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