Workers' strike hits operations at Vizag Port's ore-handling complex
Source:hellenicshippingnews 2013-12-16 9:52:00
Work in the iron ore-handling complex (OHC) at Visakhapatnam Port was paralysed on Friday as workers went on a strike in protest against the privatisation of OHC even though a petition is pending in the AP High Court.
The contract for modernising OHC and upgrading facilities at a cost of Rs 845 crore was awarded to Essar group in the face of stiff opposition from the unions.
The union representatives said the MoU relating to OHC privatisation would be signed later today (Friday) in Chennai in the presence of Union Shipping Minister G.K. Vasan. Two more projects-commissioning of a unified command centre at Visakhapatnam Port and dedication of the EQ-1 berth at Vizag Port, built by the Adani group at a cost of Rs 400 crore-would also be inaugurated by the Shipping Minister from the same venue in Chennai.
The unions expressed outrage over the fact that the Minister did not deem it fit to visit Visakhapatnam Port but was going ahead with the inauguration in Chennai. Port trustee and union leader V.V. Rama Rao questioned the propriety of holding the function in Chennai. He was also critical of the privatisation of OHC.
A petition filed by K. Bhavanisankarudu, a leader of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS), in the AP High Court against the privatisation of the OHC is still pending.