The All-India Port and Dock Workers Federation has demanded an enquiry into the delay in clearance and implementation of port projects.
Despite the fact that the Prime Minister's Office has introduced a fast track system for implementation of projects, many proposals of the major ports are in cold storage, the Federation said in a letter to the Union Shipping Minister, Mr G.K. Vasan.
Mr P.M. Mohammed Haneef, General Secretary of the Federation, pointed out that the cargo throughput of major ports which was 344.80 million tonnes (mt) in 2003-04 rose only marginally to touch 560.2 mt in 2011-12 registering a growth of only 62.47 per cent over a period of eight years.
However, the throughput of the non major ports in the private sector grew from 118.86 mt in 2003-04 to 370 mt in 2011-12 registering a growth of about 211.29 per cent.
The major ports and non-major ports in the private sector are competing in a scenario where there is no level playing field, the letter pointes out.
He said the major ports do not have the freedom to fix the tariff for services which is a crucial factor to attract business, whereas, the non-major ports are not within the ambit of TAMP and have the freedom to fix the tariff at competitive/lower levels to attract cargo.
Sluggish growth of major ports, large-scale diversion of cargo to non-major ports and slow pace of developmental activities have resulted drastic reduction of manpower in major ports.
The labour strength of major ports has come down from 1,20,000 in 1990 to 50,000 in 2010-11, the Federation added.