Dumpers' stir cripples raw material supplies from Paradeep port

The ongoing stir by the Paradeep Port Dumper Owners' Association has crippled supplies of key raw materials like coal, iron ore and limestone to industries located in the port's hinterland.

Cargo loading and unloading work at the port has come to a halt since last Wednesday as the Dumper Owners' Association and Paradeep Port Stevedores' Association have refrained from work.

Though authorities at the Paradeep Port Trust (PPT) are making efforts to restore normalcy in operations, the imbroglio continues.

The user industries, being starved of raw material supplies, meanwhile, are anxiously awaiting a breakthrough in the situation.

"We are quite hopeful that the Odisha government at the highest level is seized with the impasse in Paradeep and shall certainly intervene to break the monopoly in stevedoring to ensure fair play, making it more business friendly. Competition and a level playing field will always help the state economy and benefit the people of Odisha in terms of generating sustainable livelihood opportunities and provide better services, thereby attracting more investments," said Manish Kharbanda, executive director and group head of mines & minerals, Jindal Steel & Power (JSPL).

"The stoppage of work at Paradeep on account of the strike, non-cooperation with the administration to come for a peaceful dialogue, the rally in Paradeep and the sponsored protests are signs of desperation of the monopolistic practitioners in stevedoring at the port. The initiatives by the port authorities and the vision of the government to curb monopoly practices have shaken such individuals who are aggressively against competition and fair play. Such blockades and protests have been adversely impacting the economy of Odisha and the investors' confidence in the ease of doing business in Odisha", he added.

A JSPL vessel named MV HARM berthed at the port since last Wednesday loaded with 86,000 tonne of hard coking coal has been stuck due to the prevailing agitation. This vessel has been allotted to Seaways Shipping & Logistics Pvt Ltd for undertaking stevedoring and intra-port transportation of work. The Dumper Owners' Association and Paradeep Port Stevedores' Association have been opposing stevedoring operations by Seaways Shipping after the shipping line refused to bow to their demand to snap contract with JSPL.

"To sustain its growth rate, the Paradip Port is creating a level playing field for all port customers to do their business with ease so that the business community will benefit out of the competitive prices for their cargo handling at Paradip Port. However, a section of Port Stevedores under the 'Paradip Port Stevedores Association' and the 'Dumper Owners' Association' have created a monopolized environment for a long period in the Paradip port and they are bent upon frustrating free market economy to prevail at Paradip port now", said a PPT release.

"The port management will give necessary support and protection to any service provider who wants to use the port facilities for cargo handling as per the Port rules. Any person or agency trying to create disturbance in the port premises will be dealt with severely which includes revocation of license/permission", it added

Unfazed by the port's stern move, ten associations including those of dumpers, drivers and distributors today organized a huge rally at Paradeep. They accused PPT chairman of monopolistic practices and submitted a memorandum to the additional district magistrate.