NEW DELHI – Labor unions have announced they will try and block the central government’s move to separate the Port of Haldia from the Port of Calcutta.
Haldia is currently under the administrative control of Calcutta though it is a separate port.
“We might go for industrial action including strike,” leaders of 11 labor unions and dock employees warned at a news conference in Calcutta.
In an appeal to the board of trustees and chairman of Calcutta port, the unions said there was need to ensure horizontal integration of all entities.
The unions called on both the state of West Bengal, where both ports are located, and the central government not to commit “economic hara kiri.”
The union threat follows recent decisions by the central government separating some wings of the ports, releasing subsidies directly to Haldia, and giving powers to Haldia officials on staff appointments and promotions, and other administrative matters. The management at Calcutta also has been asked to separate the accounts of Haldia from Calcutta.
These moves come after a government decision to convert two ports – Haldia and Jawaharlal Nehru – into companies from trusts now.
Labor leaders said these orders violate the provisions of the Major Ports Trust Act of 1963. The orders had diluted the financial and administrative powers of the chairman and the board of trustees, the unions said.
Calcutta is more than 125 years old and India’s oldest major port, and one of two riverine ones. To overcome the problems of low draft at Calcutta, in 1977 a new port was commissioned at Haldia,83 kilometers downstream.
Haldia’s forte is handling of crude, oil and lubricants, petroleum distillates and bulk cargo, including fertilizers and coal. It handled 20.6 million metric tons of cargo in the year ended March 31,2000.
