The decision of Kolkata Port Trust’s Board of Trustees to opt for mechanized six berths at Haldia Dock Complex (HDC) by placing Mobile Harbour Cranes (MHC) has been opposed by the employees who feel around 1,200 people working at the dock could lose their jobs if such mechanization process is introduced.The nine-member committee formed to resolve the Haldia Port deadlock issue has decided to go for mechanization of all the berths at the HDC through tendering. The process to mechanize berth 4B was initiated earlier by the management but had to be put on a backburner due to the workers’ protest.
The employees of the dock under the banner Haldia Dock Bachao Committee have submitted a memorandum to the KoPT officials protesting against the decision. According to them, if mechanisation takes place in the remaining berths – 4B, 5, 6, 7, 9 &13 – only with MHCs as proposed then KoPT will stand to lose INR 320 crores in the contract period of 10 years and around 1,200 port employees engaged in onboard operations will lose their jobs. The Haldia Port will lose INR 32 crores annually for every berth by employing MHC, said Mr. Ramakanta Burman, General Secretary of Haldia Dock Officers Forum.
The Board of Trustees also directed the port management to write to Haldia Bulk Terminal (HBT) seeking its specific comments on the committee’s recommendation to go for mechanised berths. Meanwhile, the KoPT management is seeking the State Government’s intervention on labour issues.
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