Worried over declining cargo, unions go all out on ‘save major ports’ campaign

Port labour unions worried over dwindling cargo and increasing privatisation of assets in major ports are planning to launch a ‘save major ports’ campaign.

The trend is affecting workers’ livelihoods. The labour unions are also worried that non-major ports that come under the control of State governments are taking away cargo from major ports. .

While major ports such as Chennai, Kochi , Haldia and Mormugao are suffering due to lack of cargo, private ports at Kattupalli, Krishnapatnam and Karaikal have sprung up in quick succession, said a union leader.

Berths in major ports are being given to private players to operate, and they are reluctant to absorb port employees, he said.

The Shipping Ministry’s Maritime Agenda 2010-20 estimates that new projects in major ports will require an investment of ₹1,09,449 crore, of which ₹72,878 crore will come from the private sector.

States too have identified projects to develop non-major ports costing ₹1,67,930 crore — much more than the Centre — for the creation of additional capacity of 1,293 million tonne.

T Narendra Rao, General Secretary, Water Transport Workers’ Federation said, “we need to save our major ports. Nobody is bothered about their survival.”

The unions affiliated with the Federation will observe demands week at all the Major Ports from February 28 to March 6 as part of the ‘save major ports’ campaign.

They will also demand filling up all the existing vacancies in the Major Ports as on January 1, 2007, devise the productivity-linked-reward scheme for the next three years immediately in consultation with the recognised federations as early as possible, he said.

At Chennai port, handling of coal and iron ore — both of which employed large number of workers — is almost nil.

While the port is expected to become a major container hub, major connectivity projects are delayed, including the 19-km elevated corridor from the port to Maduravoyal .

The Shipping Ministry and Chennai Port Trust should also ensure speedy implementation of the Ennore-Manali Road improvement project, he said.

The Kochi port is facing financial problems. Throughput at the International Container Transhipment Terminal at Vallarpadam has not picked up as envisaged in the License Agreement, Rao said. Being a riverine port, dredging should be done throughout the year to maintain depth at the terminal and width of the channel. This is very expensive, with nearly 40 per cent of income spent for this purpose, he said.

At Haldia port too, dredging has to go on through the year. The Dredging Corporation of India stated that navigable depths at Jellingham and Auckland of Haldia had reduced to 4 m and 4.1 m respectively as against 5 m and 5.5 m, he said.

Rao also said that two new major ports coming up at Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal should be brought under the purview of Major Port Trust Act 1963 instead of giving them to private operators.

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