By Bizodisha Bureau, Paradip, September 17, 2015 : Cargo handling at Paradip Port has come to a grinding halt for the last three days due to a strike by 10 stakeholders protesting against the arbitrary decision of the Paradip Port Trust allowing an “outsider” to evacuate cargo from a shipon Wednesday.

Hundreds of workers on Friday took out a rally on the streets of Paradip town and staged demonstration in front of the office of Additional District Magistrate protesting against the Port Authority’s partisan attitude in showering favours to Seaways Shipping Logistics Ltd [SSLL] and Jindal Steel and Power Ltd [JSPL] leading to shut down of the Port’s operation for the last 72 hours.

Protesters walked in a circle toward the ADM’s office with slogans like, PPT chairman hai hai, Jindal Hatao, Port Bachao, Go Back Seaways etc.

“This is an agitation by all. It’s a fight for survival. It’s for getting justice. This is a completely peaceful agitation. All are here to ensure food for themselves. Beggars have no choice. We have the right to survive. We are protesting against the inhuman rule of the Paradip Port chairman,” said Harihar Mishra, a member of the Stevedores’ Association.

Mahimanand Mishra, president of the Paradip Port Stevedores’ Association [PPSA] along with other Associations, which organized the protest, said the collective held the chairman of PPT, SSLL and JSPL responsible for breaking three decade long peace and tranquility in the Port.

“Not a single man-day loss has been reported till date since 1987 and the Port also emerged as the 2nd largest port in the country due to binding principles. Stringent principles as laid down after the mayhem were adhered to by all associations and trade unions. Now the PPT chairman along with SSLL and JSPL wants to break these principles depriving livelihoods to thousands of workers and families engaged in port operations”, Mishra added.
In a violent incident in 1987, several people including the officer-in-charge of Paradip police station were killed.

“The Association members have all these years adhered to the principle that no stevedore should encroach upon another’s business until valid complaints are made by the Principals and any new membership will be most welcome provided they bring new business to the Port”, said Bibhuti Ranjan Panda, Utkal Port and Dock Workers Union while addressing the protesters.

Later they handed over a Memorandum to the District Collector and Magistrate though the ADM demanding end to highhandedness of PPT chairman in charge trying to destabilize the peace in the Port.

The 10 organizations included the Stevedores’ Association, Dumper Owners’ Association, Intra-Port Drivers and Helpers Association, Kujanga Bar Association, Oil Refinery Labour Union, Paradip-Erasama Silpanchala Bikash Parishad and Paradip Islamic Association.

Fresh trouble at the Port began with SSLL in connivance with PPT chairman-in-charge and JSPL openly violated the understanding at a meeting of all stakeholders on September 12 that no vessel would be handled by SSLL till a final solution is worked out.

The stakeholders objected to SSLL handling JSPL’s cargo as it was being handled by another PPSA member. Besides, SSLL is not a member of the PPSA, which has encroached upon stevedoring activities of another firm. However, SSLL in a letter informed the Dumper Owners Association and Stevedores’ Association on 14.9.2015 that they are going to handle the vessel MV Harm on 16.9.2015 in total contravention to the agreed principles in the meeting held on 12.9.2015.

Ironically, Paradip Port Trust Authorities wrote a letter to the important stake holders on September 15, 2015 to co-operate with SSLL to handle their vessel. This clearly exposes a clandestine deal between the PPT chairman in charge and SSLL bosses.

“The role of the PPT chairman-in-charge in the whole issue is completely dubious. How could he allow the Vessel to berth at Paradip Port when the meeting chaired by him on 12.9.2015 remained inconclusive and SSLL could not be allowed to handle any cargo of JSPL till the issues are thrashed out?”, the Memoradum submitted by the Associations said.

The stakeholders connected with the cargo handling operations had no option but to stop work after berthing of MV Harm on 16.9.2015 at 6.00 AM for indefinite period to protest against open violation of the agreed principles at several meeting held in the past, sources said.

“Today’s agitation is by all stake holders. Stevedores Association, Dumper Owners’ Association, Intra-Port Drivers and Helpers Association and all stake holders who are working in the port are taking part in the rally as you can see. This agitation is for the benefit of all stake holders. We will intensify our agitation if our demands are not met,” warned Khalid Khan of Heavy Equipment Association.

In a stern message to those creating trouble in the cargo operations of the port, the Paradip Port management had warned on Thursday that ny person or agency trying to create disturbance in the port premises will be dealt with severely and will risk revocation of his license/permission to operate.

The port is committed to give necessary support and protection to any service provider, who wants to use the port facilities for cargo handling as per the port rules, a release issued by the PPT on Thursday said.
To sustain the growth rate, Paradip Port is creating a level playing field for all Port customers to do their business with ease so that the business community will benefit out of the competitive prices for their cargo handling at Paradip Port.

Dumper Owners’ Association and Paradip Port Stevedores’ Association have refrained from loading of wagons as well as working on ships anchored in the Port.

The Port authorities want to restore normalcy and create a congenial atmosphere in the Port, but the Paradip Port Stevedores’ Association and the Dumper Owners’ Association are bent upon disturbing the peaceful working atmosphere in the Port, said the release.