The Cochin Steamer Agents Association has sought the intervention of Kerala Chief Minister to resolve the ongoing strike by private labour at Kochi Port, which had paralysed the entire export/import cargo clearance activities since Tuesday midnight.

The Association, in a letter to the Chief Minister, Mr V.S. Achuthanandan, said that the Government should intervene on a war footing to resolve the issue at a time when the Prime Minister has been invited to inaugurate the prestigious Vallarpadam International Container Transhipment Terminal on February 11.

They pointed out that the labour agitation has brought the complete cargo operations, including break bulk and container operations, to a standstill.

Prior to the official inauguration of the facility, the terminal operator has decided to carry out trial operation at the Vallarpadam site. Because of the strike, it is not possible for any container to be moved to the new facility nor is there any possibility to ship out almost 2,000 export containers already stacked inside the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal.

“We would like to emphasise that the Vallarpadam Terminal is equally important like Smart City since the Dubai Government has their interest in this facility also,” the Association said in the letter.

It may be recalled that the State Cabinet on Wednesday approved the agreement reached for revival of the Smart City project in Kochi following discussions with Dubai Government officials.

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