Team Herald
PANJIM: The Mormugao Port Trust (MPT) employees on Wednesday called on Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant seeking his intervention in restoring the coal handling activities at the port stating that stoppage will affect livelihood of over 50,000 people, who are directly or indirectly dependent on port operations for their survival.
The employees under the banner Goa Port and Dock Employees Union (GPDEU) made a representation to Chief Minister urging him to direct the Goa State Pollution Control Board (GSPCB) to take necessary steps ensuring grant of Consent to Operate to coal handling unit- M/s South West Port Limited to handle coal cargo.
The Union has demanded that the consent to operate be renewed and the permission be granted to its original sanctioned capacity of 5.5 million tonnes per annum and also MPT be allowed to handle coal at its Mooring Dolphins. It has also demanded that a common consent for a period of five years be granted to all the berths of MPT.
Union General Secretary Laxmikant Gaude said that non-renewal of coal handling operations at SWPL by GSPCB has led to unrest and unpleasant situation among the employees and pensioners of MPT.
“Consequent upon the stoppage of mining operations, the port was totally depending upon coal handling operations for revenue generations,” he said adding that precarious financial position of MPT would further aggravate due to non-renewal of consent to operate for coal handling with immediate effect.”
The Union leader raised apprehension that the coal handling units are likely to stop their operations at the port in the event of frequent disturbances and suspension of coal handling operations.
“Such eventualities will lead to serious consequences not only to the port employees but also to around 50,000 people who are directly or indirectly dependent upon the activities for their survival,” he said.
Gaude pointed out that there are about 1,700 employees and 4,500 pensioners and their family members who are dependent directly on the activity of coal handling at MPT for their survival. Also, he said that another 9,000 people are indirectly dependent upon the coal business and material handling activities at MPT.
“It is also worthwhile to state that there are self employed entrepreneurs like machine operators, taxi operators, garage owners, automobile spare part owners, etc. who are dependent on the industry,” he added.
Gaude said that the employees are under tremendous pressure of facing threat of lay-off and under apprehension of losing their employment and source of livelihood due to stoppage of the activities.
