Setting up of Port Trust in this UT

3-9/CC/2010 26.07.2010

To

The Secretary to the Govt. of India,

Ministry of Shipping,

Transport Bhavan, Sansad Marg,

New Delhi – 110 001.

Sir,

I draw your kind attention towards the decision of the Govt. of India to set up a Port Trust at Port Blair in the Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands. This decision of the government has created considerable apprehension, anguish and discontentment among the employees working in the Andaman Labour Force, Port Management Board and Andaman Harbour Works, the three organizations proposed to be merged to create the Port Trust.

The apprehension of the employees and workers mainly related to their status in the new set up, service conditions and guarantee to continue to get their salary and other benefits. They are also worried over the future of such a new set up and its viability.

We have got information that the proposed Port Trust which will be an autonomous body will require a minimum of Rs. 50 crores per annuam towards salary for the entire work force while the expected income from all sources will be around 21 crores only. It is not clear as to who will make up the difference amount for making salary and other benefits to the employees and workers. Once the Port Trust has come into force, the government may dis-continue the budgetary provision extended to the above three organizations. The employees also apprehend that the proposed set up will pave way for privatization through back doors. It will, thus, curtail the job opportunity of local youths.

There is also apprehension among the employees about the viability to set up such a Port Trust in these islands. In the absence of any major import-export activities from the ports of these islands, there may not be much income from the proposed Port Trust.

Though the technical feasibility of the proposed Port Trust is yet to be published, we have been informed that the draft in the Port Blair ports is around 8 mtrs only, while the larger size ships require 13 mtrs and more draft to be able to berth at the port.

I would, therefore, request you kindly to re-consider the above decision and allow all the existing three organizations to continue to function in its present form, as formation of the Port Trust at Port Blair is bound to have adverse effect on the existing employees and workers and also local youths.

Yours faithfully,

(D. Ayyappan)

General Secretary

Cell: 9434260430

Copy to:

1. The Chief Secretary, A & N Administration, Port Blair.
2. Com. KKN Kutty, Secretary General, Confederation of Central Govt. Employees & Workers, New Delhi, for necessary action.

General Secretary