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V. Sajeev Kumar

Oppose shifting of port's role to `landlord concept'

Kochi May 4 Cochin Port Trust workers are irked over some of the recommendations made by Transcare Logistics India Pvt Ltd in its final report of the Business Plan for the Port submitted to the authorities recently.

The port had engaged the consultant based on the directive from the Shipping Ministry to assist in preparing a business plan for the next seven years that would define a long-term vision for the port.

National Security

Expressing concern over the suggestions made by the consultant, Mr C.D. Nandakumar, a Labour Trustee in the board, told Business Line that the recommendation to shift the role of the port to `landlord concept' is totally unacceptable to workers.

The recommendations contained in clause 8 of the report are retrograde and should be scrapped in full. He said that these suggestions had to be rejected in toto as the jobs carried out by port employees involved an element of national security.

Even in the last meeting of the board of trustees, some of the members expressed their displeasure in this regard and the trade unions have called for an urgent meeting on May 8 to decide on future course of action, he added.

Traffic Projections

In the report, the consultant recommended that the port had to gradually shift its role and functions to the landlord concept. They also suggested that some of the activities such as cargo handling and inspection, storage operations, dredging operations, CFS operations, services in tugs and pilotage, etc., were to be outsourced.

According to Mr Nandakumar, the consultant had not even recommended any new projects for the port except the present development projects taken up by the management as part of National Maritime Development Programme.

Even the traffic projections made in the report are highly exaggerated which would be difficult to achieve in seven years' time, he added.

Aggressive Marketing

He alleged that the projected traffic of 48.48 million tonnes to be achieved in seven years' time is difficult considering the cargo throughput of 15.52 million tonnes achieved by the port this year. Moreover, the neighbouring ports are also on an aggressive marketing spree to attract cargo, he said.

However, the recommendations with regard to hinterland connectivity is a welcome step provided the State Governments of Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu concerned extend their full support, he said.

The consultant has recommended the port to lobby with these Governments to decrease border crossing delays and expansion of port rail links towards West Tamil Nadu, South Karnataka and urgent implementation of other rail projects in the hinterland.

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