By Bizodisha Bureau, Bhubaneswar, August 17, 2015 : Various stakeholders of Paradip Port Trust [PPT] have virtually declared war against PPT chairman, M T Krishana Babu for what they called “mismanagement, irregularities and nepotism in the running of the port”.

They demanded appointment of a permanent chairman to prevent possible labour unrest and repeat of 1984 mayehm when many people including a police officer of Paradip was brutally killed. .

Paradip Port Stevedores Association (PPSA), Dumper Owners’ Association (DOA), Heavy Equipment Association (HEA], Paradip Port Workers Union (PPWA) and Paradip Industrial Workers Association (PIWA) have sought an appointment with Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari to apprise him of the problem.

Association leaders at a press conference on Sunday night alleged that Paradip Port Trust (PPT) chairman has been promoting interest of a few private players in contravention of provisions of the Major Port Trusts Act, 1963 and other and other statutory committees by taking unilateral decision to settle contract with persons of his choice without caring norms of public bids.

“Paradip Port, which was the second best in the country in terms of cargo handling, is now witnessing sharp fall in cargo movement due to irregularities, highhandedness of the chairman,” PPSA President Mahimanada Mishra claimed.

Describing the situation as “alarming” and “posing threat” to the existence of Paradip Port, he stated only one ship is berthed in the entire port today whereas few months back, ships had a waiting time of up to nine days to get a berth.

President of Paradip Port Dumper Owners’ Association B K Nayak said local transporters who had engaged their vehicles for the last four decades were now jobless with the port allowing importers, exporters and other port users to bring their own dumpers.

The stakeholders also alleged that the authorities planned to increase output from the port without taking them into confidence.

In total contravention of the norms of the Chief Vigilance Commission [CVC], Babu has been awarding public contracts. Even he has overturned a resolution by the Board of Trustees and other statutory committees by taking unilateral decision to settle contract with persons of his choice without caring norms of public bids.

For instance, in complete violation of the terms and conditions of the tender for Harbour Mobile Cranes [HMC], Babu went out of the way to show undue favour to Bothra Shipping Services Pvt Ltd, by awarding installation of fourth HMC, against three HMCs, it had tendered for.

A two member bench comprising Chief Justice, D H Waghela and Justice P Rath of Odisha High Court in its order on July 27, 2015 has quashed the order by the PPT for fourth HMC to Botha Shipping Service Ltd and terms the order as ‘illegal and arbitrary’.

“..Some under –hand dealing and prior understanding could be inferred from the demeanours of the tender committee and M/S Bothra in so far as order were already place by M/S Bothra in advance and the fourth HMC was diverted from Kakinada to PPT to install it and make it operation much ahead of the appointed time”, the bench observed while disposing of the writ petition filed by three other successful bidders viz ABC Trans Carriers Pvt Ltd, Orissa Stevedores Ltd and Viable Infrastructure and Logistic Pvt Ltd.

Similarly, the PPT’s move to mechanise unloading of wagons has also caused resentment among labourers while restrictions on transportation have made an adverse impact on port operations, they claimed.

Refuting the allegations, Babu, who is also the chairman of Vizag Port Trust said, the port handled 8.7 per cent more cargo from April to August 15 this year compared to the corresponding period last year.

Stating that the port seeks to offer a level playing field to different players instead of allowing complete monopoly to a few, he rubbished the claims that mechanisation and modernisation would render many jobless.

“None will be thrown out of job because of mechanisation,” Babu told.