VASCO
In a rare show of strength and solidarity, thousands of people on Tuesday took part in a silent protest to demand their right to livelihood and for the survival of the Mormugao Port Trust (MPT).
The rally was conducted under the aegis of ‘Rojgar Bachao Abhiyan’ (RBA) and it included employees and workers of the port and port users, transporters, stevedores, vessel agents and EXIM traders, a large number of pensioners of the MPT, employees of shipping companies and all trade connected with the port operations.
The people marched in a silent protest to demand their right to livelihood and for the survival of MPT. The rally culminated at the Mormugao Port Institute (MPI), where the participants were addressed by RBA convener Shekar Khadapkar and other prominent leaders.
A memorandum, which was later handed over to the Mormugao Deputy Collector by the RBA convenor and other leaders demanded that the Goa Pollution Control Board be unbiased in reporting pollution figures and to issue guidelines for containment of pollution, besides restoration of consent for handling of coal at the port.
The meeting at the MPI premises was addressed by RBA Convener Shekar Khadapkar, Laxmikant Gawde, Labour Trustee of the Port, and General Secretary of the Goa Port & Dock Employees Union, Prasad Nayak, President of the MPT Officers Association, Frankey Gomes, President of Salcette Truckers Association, Leonard Rodrigues, Working President of Mormugao Port & Railway Workers Union and Trustee of the Port, and Ashish Machado, President of the Shipping Agents & representative of the Mormugao Stevedores Association.
All speakers made a fervent plea to the State sovernment and other authorities not to infringe the authority of the port, which was a central government body to serve maritime trade, to prescribe pollution containment measures and to restore consent to handle coal at the port as per environmental norms and guidelines.
“MPT has sustained the State’s economy and contributed to society in various spheres and has sustained economic activity for generations. The consent to handle coal at the port within permissible limits should be given,” said Khadapkar.
In his address, Gawde highlighted that handling of coal at the port is essential to meet salaries of its officers and employees and the monthly pension bill of the pensioners, which is around Rs 250 crore per annum, he said.
He also spoke about the various measures initiated by the port to minimize pollution at source. He appealed to restore the consent to handle coal in the port.
Leonard Rodrigues, senior trade union leader and Trustee of the Board, said the Goa Pollution Control Board has no jurisdiction to dictate the type of cargo and quantity to be handled by the port.
Stating that the Ministry of Shipping has notified 65 MT of cargo to be handled by the port, Rodrigues added: “The port takes all necessary precautions for safe handling of cargoes as per the guidelines of the Dock Safety Regulations and Statutes.
