The Cochin Port Employees Organisation has sought immediate intervention of the Union Government to save the port from the problems associated with the implementation of some of theprojects.

Mr C.D. Nandakumar, General Secretary, CPEO, pointed out that several development projects and government’s policy decision have pushed the port into a precarious financial position. For instance, he cited that the Vallarpadam Container Transhipment Terminal itself is entangled with various functional, technical and procedural problems affecting its normal functioning. . This has resulted in fall in container throughput in ICTT, thereby affecting the revenue share due to the port according to the licence agreement with the terminal operator. The shortage of Indian flag vessels for onward transportation of import containers to other major ports from ICTT is also a major issue to be tackled, he said.

The union also submitted its demand to the Government as part of observing the protest week in the port following a call made by the Water Transport Workers Federation of India.

The federation demanded that the Government should reverse the retrograde policies which are highly detrimental to the very existence of major ports on the one hand and extending stimulus packages to private ports and non-major ports. The union urged the Kochi Port management to withdraw austerity measures curtailing the benefits of port employees. Meanwhile, the Cochin Port Staff Association, affiliated to All-India Port and Dock Workers Federation, also held demonstrations demanding immediate payment of productivity linked reward for 2010-11, suspended increase of dearness relief from January 1, local allowances according to the wage revision settlement and urgent payment of overtime arrears. The scheduled payment date was September 2011.

> sajeevkumar@thehindu.co.in

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