VASCO
A number of stakeholders at the Mormugao Port Authority (MPA) have claimed that Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar is being targeted for supporting locals and opposing the privatisation of berths at Mormugao Port Authority (MPA).
This was stated by members of the Stevedorers/Handling Agent Association, Transport Association, labour contractors and Tipper Truck Owners Association during a joint news conference at Vasco.
Wasim Shaikh of Venkateshwar Transport said they had met Amonkar about the privatisation of berths and had requested him to safeguard their livelihood.
“The gypsum cargo of around 32,000 tonnes was brought to the port in May and we have cleared 98 per cent of the cargo by June. How can anyone make allegations that the cargo is still inside the port? The small amount of cargo in the port was kept on hold because there was a dispute between buyer and importer and we were informed to keep it on hold till the dispute was over,” said Shaikh.
"There was news that one company has written to the MPA that their cargo is deliberately kept on hold. But the fact is, the company got around 50,000 tonnes of gypsum cargo in April. Of this, 40,000 tonnes of cargo was transported by them using railways within a month and the balance cargo of 10,000 tonnes was to be transported by road, which we have already done.”
“Hardly around 70 tonnes of cargo was kept on hold because the company has not made our payment despite several reminders and I have all the email conversations made to this company as proof,” said Shaikh.
Shaikh alleged that attempts are being made to target Amonkar so that there is no hindrance of any sort in the MPA’s plan to privatise the berths and throw them all out in one shot.
“We are working for more than six companies and there is no complaint of any sort. In fact, our performance is way better than the previous transporter,” said Shaikh.
Unsure of MLA's role, we’re trying to ease the situation: MPA
Mormugao Port Authority Chairman Dr N Vinodkumar said he was unsure about Mormugao MLA Sankalp Amonkar’s alleged involvement in the recent controversy over transportation of cargo from the port.
Dr Vinodkumar was speaking to reporters after meeting Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in the Secretariat.
"We are not aware of the involvement of the local MLA and we are only trying to ease the situation wherein transportation starts and cargo can be moved. Cargo movement has started from Monday and we are happy about it,” said Dr Vinodkumar.
“We are unsure of the problem, but there seems to be a communication gap between the company and the transporters and the cargo has started moving after we had a joint meeting on Monday evening. As of now, we don't expect any problem, especially after we have had a discussion with the CM,” said Dr Vinodkumar.
The MPA chairman admitted that there had been a diversion of some cargo to other ports like Jaigarh.
“The chief minister has given us an assurance after which we will have a discussion with the companies and try to get back the business. As a port, we are not involved in transportation and we don't have a link with the transporters.”
“Our link is only with the importers and exporters who have their own agreement with the transporters. The port was not looking into who was transporting which cargo. With problems in transportation, the port will now look at empanelling or registering the transporters properly.”
“Whenever there are problems, we approach the CM and this has been done previously also and he has been kind enough to immediately intervene and the problems get resolved,” Dr N Vinodkumar added.
