MPT has salary reserve fund for next six months
Vasco is synonymous with Mormugao Port Trust. Ithas almost become a lifeline to people who work there. Today MPT wears adeserted look and the future of most employees hangs by the thread.
Based on an independent study conducted by the Pune-basedKirloskar Consultancy Ltd a decade ago, MPT chairman, P Mara Pandiyan suggestedthat MPT contributes 35 percent of the State’s GDP and 30 percent of Goans wereemployed at the port. It also contributes 30 per cent of tax revenue, he said.
However, the employment ratio given by Pandiyan is incontext of different agencies and ancillary units that are directly orindirectly dependent on the port for employment.
As per 2011 census Mormugao Taluka’s population stands at awhopping 10,4758 lakhs. Port unions estimated that 60 percent of people areeither directly or indirectly connected with port operations.
Since MPT is an export oriented port, iron ore is the majorcargo it handles which contributes nearly 90 percent of business. Importsaccounts nearly 10 percent by way of coal handled at the four berths (JSW 5Aand 6A and MPT’s berth 10 and 11).
The fall in operations at the port was visible since lastyear when mining was banned in Karnataka. MPT had exported 50 MT iron ore in2010-11, which dropped to 39 MT in 2011-12.
The business operation at MPT is restricted to eight months.For the financial year 2012-13 the port operated for just two months before themonsoon (April and May). The operations were supposed to restart from September15 but got stalled due to ban on mining.
“Last year 13.13 MT of ore was exported. This year till datethe port has managed to handle just about 7.42 million tons of iron ore, a dropof nearly 5.71 MT,” said Biplav Kumar, acting chairman of MPT.
However, there is no substantial drop in coal and coke,since operations at berth 5A and 6A has been going on even after closure ofoperations at berth 10 and 11.
The closer of MPT’s coal handling operations at berth 10 and11, after Goa State Pollution Control Board revoked consent for operations, hasdealt a further blow to the MPT.
“The main cargos handled at the port are iron ore and coal,without which the port is virtually dead,” Kumar said.
“We have briefed the Ministry of Shipping of the prevailingsituation and are optimistic that operations would normalize sooner thanlater,” Kumar added.
