The row between the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) and the Paradip Port Stevedores' Association and some other organisations took a new turn on Monday.
After repeated appeals by the PPT management to the stevedores' association to resume operations failed, the PPT is now contemplating to invite fresh open tender for the stevedoring, PPT Chairman MT Krishna Babu told mediapersons, Babu said the inflexible attitude of stevedoring companies over past one week has hampered port business; so, the PPT is taking steps for cargo loading and unloading, curbing stevedores' domination. The best option available is to select stevedores by going in for open bidding, he informed.
Babu informed that there are no legal barriers in an outstation stevedore operating in any major port. He thereby brushed aside the allegation of promoting outsiders at Paradip. The port users usually engage their stevedoring and transporting agencies and the port management has no role in selecting a stevedore for their cargo handling, he clarified. .
Interestingly, the agitated stevedores' association president Mahimananda Mishra welcomed the PPT Chairman's option in selecting stevedores through open tender. But the association would take a decision after the Biswakarma puja festivities in the port town come to an end on Wednesday. "Meanwhile, we were in touch with the Union Shipping Ministry and State Government and our Central counterparts for intervention," Mishra told reporters.
Seaways stevedoring firm continued its work in the port premises for the third consecutive day on Monday with 111 dumpers and pay loaders hired from outside and unloading coal from a vessel. Police and CISF personnel have been deployed at the port premises to avert any untoward incident.