The Paradip International Cargo Terminal (PICT) Pvt Ltd, which is operational for a year near Gate No.5 of Paradip Port has allegedly given safety parameters in cargo handling a goby.
The firm is operating at Paradip on lease basis handling all sorts of steel, clean cargo at their berths. However, it is alleged that the company is not following the safety norm standard.
On last Monday early morning, there was a report of an accident which is not reported to the Government authority. The ship namely ' Kent Giant' was loading steel coils by Tata Steel Ltd.Due to parting of wire rope of the crane, the coil fell on the ship making a loud noise without causing any injury. The working labourers ran helter-skelter out of fear hearing the loud noise. Some labourers were also thrown away from the place of incident due to the impact.
The work was stopped for few hours till the workers were convinced. The question raised was that when the heavy steel coils were loaded to the ship, why the ropes were not checked properly.
Similarly, after 24 hours of the incident,a worker was seriously injured while unloading iron plates on Tuesday . The injured worker was admitted to Paradip Port Trust Hospital for treatment and later shifted to a private hospital in Bhubaneswar as his condition deteriorated. It is alleged that when there is bad weather or condition of sea is rough, the cargo operations at PICT is stopped due to rolling of ships. But in present case the cargo operations were carried out inspite of adverse weather condition which is said to be the reason for accidents. It is further alleged that the workers are not provided with safety equipment like personal protecting gears while carrying out the cargo operation and they are not covered with insurance. There is no ambulance for transporting injured the workers to nearby hospitals. However, the Paradip Port is following all safety standards at their berths for the workers including ambulance, insurance and other safety facilities.
When the Paradip Port is having security cover of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) of Central Government, the PICT is covered by private security whichis less efficient than CISF.
Activist SriballavaKar expressed that the private companies like PICT must adopt the prescribed safety parameters.
In the matter, General Manager (HR) of PICT Kulamani Panda said that the rope snapped while loading coil on the vessel and an investigation has been ordered to know the exact reason of the mishap.