Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)
Mangaluru, Mar 1: Opposing union finance minister, Arun Jaitley's initiatives to privatize ports in an attempt to attract private investments in these sectors, port workers have threatened to go on indefinite strike from March 9.
The minister has shown inclination to attract investment in ports in public domain like the earlier successful scheme of luring private investments in smaller ports. He also proposes to make large tracts of land lying unused in ports available for private use.
As per the finance minister's proposals, 12 main ports in the country, Kandla, Mumbai, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust, Murmagoa, New Mangaluru, Kochi, Chennai, Ennore, VO Chidambaranar port, Visakhapatnam, Paradeep and Kolkatta, will be brought under private domain in phases. They will be managed by companies registered under Companies Act.
Port trust workers unions have vehemently opposed the move, terming it as a measure of selling them off to private companies. All India Port Workers Association secretary, Uday Choudhury, said that port workers will go on indefinite strike from March 9 onwards to register their opposition to this proposal.