The Hindu Business Line : Unions oppose business plan for Kochi port

Kochi June 8 In protest against the recommendations made by the international consultants in the business plan prepared for Cochin Port Trust, all the trade unions jointly staged a dharna before the Administrative Office on Friday where a meeting of the board of trustees was held.

The unions, cutting across political affiliations, are up in arms against the business plan submitted by the international consultants Transcare Logistics India Pvt Ltd.

The appointment of the consultants was based on the directive of the Shipping Ministry to all major ports to prepare a perspective plan, covering a span of 20 years, by engaging international experts as per the Ministry's guideline.

The consultants had submitted the final report in March. As per the vision over the next 20 years, the Kochi port has to serve the country as (a) Business Enterprise; (b) As economic development facilitator; (c) An environmental conservator; (d) A public service provider.

However, the unions alleged that the most retrograde recommendation the consultants made under the head "Organisational Issues" is to gradually shift the role and functions of the port to the landlord concept. Some of the activities listed by them as eligible for outsourcing are cargo handling and storage operations, workshop activities for cargo handling equipment, tally and cargo inspection, dredging operations, container freight station operations, pilotage and so on.Raising the issue at the board meeting, Mr C.D. Nandakumar, who represents the labour, said that the report should not be adopted by the board in the present form.