Team Herald
VASCO: Mormugao Port and Railway Workers (MPRW) Union has urged to the State government, the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) and other connected agencies not to penalise the port workers and port dependents including pensioners on the pretext of curbing pollution.
The union said that its members too are strongly opposed to pollution and are concerned about the inconvenience caused to the people of port town due to pollution.
Addressing a press conference at MPT’s guest house on Wednesday, MPRW President Leonard Rodrigues said, “Our Union and workers are strongly opposed to pollution and concerned about inconvenience caused to the people. However, due to the certain reasons which are beyond the control of port, workers and dependents consisting of 18,000 lives should not be penalised.”
He emphasised that the port was taking all the preventive and protective measures to control/suppress the pollution level at the port and its vicinity.
“With systematic and scientific method of handling the commodities including coal, the safe method can be incorporated which will benefit the port, its workers, the society and the state at large,” he said and strongly demanded that State government and GSPCB reconsider its adverse decision.
“At the same time, we also urge the port town citizens to kindly acknowledge the contribution of the port with respect to direct and indirect employment and their survival and overall economic growth of port town and State. We have also resolved to take out a peaceful rally in the port town for the cause of the port workers which would culminate in a public meeting so that we can request people to support us,” he said.
Rodrigues claimed that the closure of mechanical ore handling plant (MOHP) has led to huge revenue loss to port. Similarly, WISL has been closed down and has totally blocked the source of revenue. He said that after the Union government enforced uniform handling rates to all cruise vessels at concessional rates across the country, the port revenue has dropped as MPT is now bound to lose Rs 12 crore per annum and now after coal handling stopped at MPT and due to the downfall of cargo Mormugao port suffered loss of Rs 90 crore and the figures may go up in days to come
“The Port has to generate minimum of Rs 500 crore annually out of which 250 crore are required towards outflow of salaries/pension consisting of employees of around 1700 and pensioners of 4300. Moreover, due to the gradual fallout, the traffic handled by the port has drastically reduced due to several factors. Now, since the port faced such position, as an austerity measure, it issued a circular curtailing several benefits of the employees as a result the take home capacity of the port workers will be reduced this month onwards,” he said.
We are prepared to handle any type of cargo without inconveniencing and creating problem to anyone in port town,” he said.
