Kerala - Kochi   

Zero growth for Cochin Port

KOCHI: The Cochin Port Trust recorded zero growth so far this fiscal, mainly because of workers’ strikes, its chairman, N. Ramachandran, said here on Thursday.

At a meeting convened here to discuss the fallout of frequent strikes, he said the port recorded a 10 per cent growth last year. The many strikes this year and the resultant uncertainty about cargo handling had resulted in ships destined for Kochi unloading goods at ports such as Tuticorin. Since April 2005, the port lost 66 working days because of strikes, affecting the handling of containers. This had affected the goodwill enjoyed by the port.

Now, the port was heavily dependant on crude oil meant for Bharat Petroleum Corporation Ltd., for its sustenance. This revenue was set to fall, with the commissioning of the Single-Point Mooring Facility for the Kochi refinery, Mr. Ramachandran said.

Later, briefing presspersons, Labour Minister P.K. Gurudasan, who chaired the session, said that steps had been taken to prevent strikes. But he did not reveal the methodology that would be adopted for the purpose.

He said that trade unions had promised support for the smooth running of the port.

Mr. Gurudasan said that conditions in the agreement signed with workers would be changed only after consulting trade unions. The meeting was inconclusive on how to prevent frequent strikes.

Many prominent unions did not attend the talks.

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