The State Government on Saturday told the Assembly that loading and unloading of cargos at the Paradip Port has been normalised, and in order to debar the stevedoring agencies and tripper owner associations from holding strikes, the Orissa Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) 1988 has been enforced at the port till July 27, 2016.
Commerce and Transport Minister Ramesh Chandra Majhi said this while replying to a question of BJD MlA Amar Satpathy and supplementary questions of other members.
“The Jagatsingpur district administration provided adequate security to resolve the law and order situation created by strikes resorted to by stevedores and tripper associations. Now, there is no problem in loading and unloading of cargos at the port,” said Majhi, quoting a report of the PPT authorities.
He informed that the Home Department transport agency has clamped the ESMA to restrict stevedores and trippers from holding strikes and disturbing cargo handling works at the port.
Citing the PPT authorities’ report, the Minister said export and import companies engage their own agencies for loading and unloading works. The PPT doesn’t interfere in engagement of such agencies which internal affairs of the companies. It is up to the companies whether to engage stevedore agencies from the State or outside.