Workers unrest hits IFFCO production at Paradip

The company is incurring a loss of Rs 3 cr per day due to the production halt

Production of fertiliser at the Paradip unit of Indian Farmers Fertilizer Cooperative Limited (IFFCO) has come to a grinding halt for last four days due to dispute between two labour unions of the plant.

The company is incurring a loss of Rs 3 crore per day due to the production halt.

Head ( HR), IFFCO, P. Bhattacharya informed that the company's three plants at Paradip for production of di-ammonium phosphate (DAP) plant, sulphuric acid, phosphoric acid have been completely hit from 3rd July.

He said, the disturbances were created with the activists of one labour union sitting on dharna at railway siding of the plant to press for fulfilment of their demand as a result of which loading and unloading activities have been affected.

"We have sought the intervention of the district administration to resolve these issues," he said.

The labour unrest was precipitated by a clash between the loyalists of two workers unions of the plant in which six people were seriously injured.

The two unions are- Bhumiputra Multi Purpose Cooperative Society (BMPCS), headed by BJD leader Sankhanada Behera and Ersama Paradip Industrial Workers' Union (EPIWU) headed by Bapi Sarkhel. The workers belonging to these two unions are mostly engaged in loading and unloading of finished fertiliser bags in rail wagons.

Orissa Stevedores Limited (OSL) has taken the contract for loading and unloading operations and about 1,200 workers have been pressed for the job under it.

Sources said, the rift between the unions arose when a section of workers with BMPCS shifted their allegiance to EPIWU under the leadership of Sarkhel. This led to clashes among the workers resulting in disruption in loading work.

Though the injured persons have lodged an FIR in Paradip police station, no one has been arrested yet. Protesting the incident, the activists of BMPCS have been sitting on dharna at the railway siding for last four days.