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Daijiworld Media Network -Mangaluru (JS)

Mangaluru, Mar 5: 12 Indian ports including NMPT are going to stop functioning any time after March 13 as a part of protest against the move of corporatization of ports by central government. This was revealed at a press meet held here at Mangaluru on March 5.

N M Adyanthaya, president INTUC said "The honourable finance minister of India has made a policy statement regarding corporatization of major ports while presenting the budget in parliament on February 28. In protest against this move, 5 federations functioning in the major ports have issued strike notices to the management about the nationwide indefinite strike by the port and dock workers across the country from March 9.Meanwhile the central labour commissioner, New Delhi on March 4 has asked the federation leaders to submit their suggestion on corporatization to have further dialogue with the secretary(Shipping). Considering the suggestion of the central labour commissioner, yesterday on March 4, the five federations have decided to defer the indefinite strike by a week,"

"This is the NDA governments second attempt at corporatizing the ports, picking up from where it had left the initiative more than 10 years ago after losing power in the 2004 polls. The earlier NDA government led by former prime minister Vajpayee had introduced a bill to amend the major port trust act which fell through because law makers were divided on the issue. This time the shipping ministry is planning to seek cabinet approval by the end of March 2015 to enable corporatization of port through amendments to MPT act. The decision of cabinet would spell out the mechanism for valuation and transfer of assets, including land when a port trust structure is changed into a company,"he added.

"Now the real intention of the government behind the corporatization of ports is to transfer the rights of a lot of township land to the respective companies which otherwise rest with the government. Once the government land goes to the respective companies, it would be easier to sell it out to the private players. The 12 major ports have already started revaluing their land to facilitate leasing and licensing in accordance with the new land policy. Further the corporatization of ports will pave the way for loss of jobs under alibi of rightsizing and downsizing the major ports. If the government really wants to make major ports better, competitive and modernized ones, this objective could well be achieved by ammending the MPT act without converting them into companies." Adyanthaya said.

"The major ports such as Kolkatta, Mumbai and Kandla could not be converted into companies due to land issues. The large tracts of land acquired by the government for the purpose of developing ports are public properties. How the government now can give to private firms? When most of the major ports are performing well without any financial support from government, we do not understand the motive of government behind this move. We predict it to be land scam as 12 ports own 2,60,000 acres of land. NMPT alone has 2300 acres." He revealed.

"If the government goes ahead with its move to corporatize the major ports, we will be compelled to stop functioning of ports any time after March 13. If necessary we will go to the supreme court against the plan. At the same time we will ensure that essential services such as medical, water supply and fire services will be spared."Adyanthaya concluded.

Rakesh Malli, working president INTUC, Ramesh Poojary, Sureshchandra Shetty, president (HMS) President NMPSA(HMS) and V P Ashirvad, General secretary AITUC were present at the press meet.