Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)  
Pic by: Dayanand Kukkaje
 
Mangalore, Mar 20: A protest demanding better working conditions for goods locomotive pilots on the New Mangalore Port (NMPT) sector was launched here by the members of the All India Loco Running Staff Association (AILRSA) in front of the central railway station here, on Wednesday March 19.  

The locomotive pilot workers were demanding that the severe pollution caused by dust from mineral ore, should be controlled forthwith by the railway authorities.  

According to them, they were working under difficult and hazardous conditions and they also criticized the railways for not doing enough to protect the rights of the employees.  

Due to pollution many of the loco pilots have begun to show signs of bronchitis and other breathing disorders such as asthma because of their frequent visits to the port, alleged AILRSA secretary T P M Prasad.  

Moreover he informed that as per the rules and instructions of the port and railway authorities, it was the duty of the contractors in charge of the loading operations of the ore and other minerals, to ensure that the ore was constantly watered to prevent dust.  

However, these contractors are shirking their duty and not doing their job properly. They are busy trying to save the expenses of watering the ore, he alleged.  

Some allegations were also made in the AILRSA press release, wherein it was mentioned that although they have made repeated representations at various levels, the officials concerned remained inert. Another complaint was that the railways was exploiting loco pilots by not giving them sufficient resting period.  
 
In the press release they alleged that according to railway rules and regulations, the rest period allowed in headquarters is 16 hours whereas in places that are not headquarters the rest period is only eight hours.  

In his tirade against railway authorities Prasad alleged that the loco pilots were deliberately sent to the Mangalore Junction railway station instead of the central station because the former was not regional headquarters.  

Moreover in the release, a demand was also made to make Mangalore Junction the regional headquarters like the Central station.