Kerala - Kochi   

Immediate restoration of wharf facility sought

Staff Reporter

Union says the number of carriers being serviced has come down

KOCHI: The Water Transport Workers Federation of India affiliated to the CITU on Tuesday demanded that Q4 of the Mattancherry wharf be repaired and re-commissioned on a war footing as the number of bulk carriers being serviced came down in the wake of the damage suffered to the wharf on November 13.

President of the federation M.M. Lawrence said in statement that there was an attempt on the part of the Cochin Port Trust (CPT) authorities to blame the caving in of Q4 on its age when neglect was a major factor in the incident.

Stacking of salt

Mr. Lawrence said that stacking of salt and iron scrap on the wharf premises had added to the crisis.

Besides, keeping iron scrap at the wharf premises was polluting the air and was harmful to the health of the workers.

Q4 of the wharf collapsed because it was being used without giving any consideration to the stipulations that governed its use, alleged Mr. Lawrence as he demanded that an inquiry into the incident should be done only after suspending the officials responsible for it.

Meanwhile, the Cochin Port Employees' Organisation, affiliated to the CITU, alleged that the Chief Engineer and the Traffic Manager of the Port were responsible for the collapse of Q4 of the Mattancherry wharf and that they be suspended. The demand was raised in a representation to the Chairman of the CPT.

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