VASCO
The privatisation of five of the 11 berths may be considered a win-win situation by the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA), but there have been some apprehensions that it could lead to a significant loss of jobs in the port.
Sources at the MPA have sought to dispel these concerns by stating that the PPP model does not have a direct connection with the MPA staff or workers.
“Even if MPA workers lose their job after berths are privatised, the MPA adjusts those workers in other departments of the port.
“In fact, there has been no major recruitment in MPA since 2000 and many existing staff are on the verge of retirement. The MPA is working with limited staff and while we once had around 4,500 workers as of now there are 1,091-odd staff,” said a source.
“These workers with the MPA are scattered in various places, including administrative building, marine department, traffic department, workshop, fire brigade department, etc. Once a berth is privatised, some staff from the mechanical set, supervisors and electricians will be moved out from there.”
The source explained that lighting of berths is provided by MPA and while mechanical staff is managed by MPA and the supervisors, the electricians will be moved out from the area.
“These workers do not lose jobs as such but they will be accommodated by MPA in different sections. Whenever a ship comes to berth, it is guided by an MPA pilot and the ship is secured to the berth by the MPA shore gang.”
“If the PPP berth operator says that they don't need the MPA shore gang, then only those people will be moved out from this berth, but they will be adjusted in other departments,” said the source.
Raghoba Kotkar, Vice President and Goa Incharge of Delta Infralogistics Worldwide Limited (DIWL) which recently signed an MoU with Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) to take over two berths for 30 years, said the PPP mode would not affect livelihoods of Goans.
“DIWL has already been operating in the port for a long time and we already have around 300 staff at present. With a PPP model, we only get to operate from the berth and bring in new cargo and generate more jobs,” said Kotkar.
“We have plans to increase our recruitment and we will also hire more Goans once we take over Berths 10 and 11. Besides this, as cargo increases and business expands, it also provides more benefits to other stakeholders like transport operators and allied business associated with cargo movement, thereby also generating indirect employment and livelihood opportunity,” Kotkar added.
