VASCO: Mormugao Port & Railway Workers (MPRW) a premiere Union operating at Mormugao Port since 1963, urged to the Govt. of Goa, Goa State Pollution Control Board and other connected agencies not to penalize the Port workers and its dependents including pensioners on the pretext of pollution.
Addressing a press conference at MPT guest house on Wednesday afternoon President of MPRW Leonard Rodrigues said”MPT with its targeted capacity fixed by the Ministry of Shipping consisting of several commodities such as lime stone, Iron ore, Coal, Woodchips, fertilizers, scrap etc. MPT has created handling capacity to the extent of 40 M. Tonnes, however the targeted figure by the Ministry of Shipping is 35 M. Tonnes due to several constrains in clearance of the cargo from the Port, it has been restricted to 35 M tonnes. MPT is duty bound to handle the above quantity duly adopting safety, pollution and other precautionary conditions as envisaged in Dock Safety regulations” he said.
He further added that”Due to the closure of Mechanical Ore Handling Plant (MOHP), the cargo of Iron ore which was being handled to the extent of 12 Million Tonnes have also vanished, thus creating huge revenue loss as the cargo handled at MOHP was the bread and butter for the MPT employees. M/s SWPL & Adani Ports have been sanctioned to handle 5 MT and 7 MT respectively alongwith other commodities is ought to be dependent on both the ports to a great extent as WISL (Western India Shipyard Ltd) has been closed down and has totally blocked the source of revenue which the port cannot bank upon. MPT is also handling tourist cruise vessels at this port and a sizeable revenue was being collected by the port after creating all the required infrastructure/logistics required. However by virtue of Government of India directives enforcing uniform handling rates to all cruise vessels at concessional rates across the country, our revenue has also been suffered and MPT bound to lose Rs. 12 crores per annum due to above directives of the Government.The Port has to generate minimum of Rs. 500 crores annually out of which 250 crores are required towards outflow of salaries/pension consisting of working employees of around 1700 & 4300 odd pensioners. Moreover, due to the gradual fallout as mentioned above, the traffic handled by port has drastically reduced due to several factors. Due to the above position faced by the Port as an austerity measures port has issued a circular pursuant to suspension of coal handling activities at berth No. 6 curtailing several benefits of the employees.Port workers are directly connected to all the activities hence, have to come across of all the issues including safety etc. Our Union and workers strongly oppose the pollution and inconvenience as caused directly. However, due to the certain reasons which are beyond the control of port, workers and dependents consisting of 18,000 lives should not be penalized. Port is taking all the preventive and protective measures to control/suppress the pollution level at the Port and its vicinity. With systematic &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 told
MPRW Union therefore, strongly demand the Govt of Goa and GSPCB to kindly reconsider its adverse decision and also urge the port town citizens to kindly acknowledge the contribution of port with respect to direct and indirect employment and their survival and overall economic growth of port town and state. MPRW Union has also resolved to take out a peaceful rally in the port town for the cause of the port workers which would culminate into a public meeting.
