Paradip, Sept. 18: Mechanised and manual cargo handling at the port came to a halt with local service providers stalling the day-to-day operation.
Though the Paradip Port Trust's mechanised berths were fully operational with normal cargo handling going on, the Paradip Port Stevedores' Association had refrained from unloading activity on MV Harm ship, carrying around 86,000 tonnes of hard coking coal since September 16. And the local service providers today stopped unloading on all berthed ships.
"The importers and exporters, who are the primary customers of the port, have the freedom to choose a port-licensed stevedore, and the port cannot influence or interfere in choosing their stevedoring agencies. It only facilitates in giving a stevedoring licence to a firm upon satisfying their bona fide, according to the Paradip Port (Licensing of Stevedores) Regulations, 2009," said the port trust's deputy chairman N. Vaiyapuri.
The port authorities have taken serious view of the local stevedores' disruptive activities. "Any person or agency trying to ferment disturbance and trouble on the port premises will be severely dealt with and risk revocation of license permit to operate within the major port," said Vaiyapuri.
According to the rules, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd (JSPL) was permitted to do their stevedoring and intra-port handling of cargo on their ships through three port-licensed stevedores, namely Sahara Engineering Pvt Ltd, Seaways Shipping & Logistics Pvt Ltd and Swastik Stevedores Pvt Ltd from June.
The local service providers are protesting against the stevedoring permit to the JSPL, said a port official.
"According to the rules, the port is committed to give necessary support and protection to any service provider, who wants to use the port facilities for cargo handling," he said.
The service providers such as stevedores and dumper owners are opposing this step introduced by the port management, asking the port users to engage their own dumpers and allow stevedores from outside the state to operate here.
Paradip additional police superintendent Madhabanand Sahu said: "The local stevedores took out a rally today, protesting against the port policy. The authorities have sought for police intervention to avert possible breach of law and order. We are keeping tabs on the situation, and the Central Industrial Security Force personnel are also on the job to maintain peace."
A section of port stevedores under the Paradip Port Stevedores' Association and the Dumper Owners' Association have created a monopolised environment for a long period at Paradip port, and they are bent upon hindering free market economy here, he said.
Last month, the local stevedores and other service providers had created a similar situation.
However, local civil and police administration thwarted had it, he said.
On the other hand, the local stevedores' body refuted the charges. Paradip Port Stevedores' Association president Mahimananda Mishra alleged: "The port management has hatched a conspiracy to cripple the state's lone major port by encouraging a few private service players from the neighbouring states in contravention of provisions of the Major Port Act."
However, the port trust authorities denied the charges and claimed that it was adhering to the rules while introducing the measures.
In another development, the agitation has adversely affected the bread and butter of the daily wagers engaged in loading and unloading at the port.
"We are not on the monthly payroll of stevedores or the port. We toil every day to earn a square meal. The tug of war between the port and the stevedores has hit us hard. We have not earned single pie since the past three days," rued a daily wage earner, Bipin Lenka.
