Enayam at our cost, cry VOC port staff

“The trade unions have decided to stage a protest in front of Thoothukudi port’s administrative office on Friday condemning the decision to transfer fund and are also planning to launch an indefinite strike from October 3. 

The central government recently cleared a proposal for a major port at Enayam and had allotted Rs 6,575 crore in the first phase from the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) fund. Of the allocation in the first phase, Rs 3,185 crore was sanctioned for constructing breakwater. For this purpose, Rs 1,000 crore had been diverted from three other major ports in India to the tune of Rs 400 crores each from Thoothukudi and Ennore ports and the remaining Rs 200 crores from Chennai port. 

The transfer of fund to the newly proposed Enayam port has come under severe criticism and opposed by trade unions and employees of Thoothukudi port. 

Speaking to DTNext, Rusel, State Secretary, CITU, said that already there was shortage of Rs 450 crore with regard to pension and PF funds. Apart from that various developmental works such as dredging, procurement of new equipment, new boats and infrastructural works were pending for more than two years owing to lack of funds and under such a circumstance. If Rs 400 crore was diverted to Enayam facility the development of Thoothukudi port will take a heavy toll, the protesters said. It is said that the Centre has given oral instructions to stop the Thoothukudi outer harbour project which had been going on for two years for which Rs 7,500 crore had been allotted in the first phase. All the work and the amount spent on the outer harbour project would now go waste, he said and added that all this was being done for the benefit of Minister of State for Shipping, Pon Radhakrishnan, as the Enayam Port falls under his constituency. 

If Enayam project had to be executed, it should be done with special fund allotted by central government and the sum should not be come at the cost of the development of other major ports, opined Rusel. 

CBI officials on Thursday raided the office and residence of Traffic Manager of VO Chidambaranar Port Trust in Thoothukudi. Sources said the raid began in the evening at both the office and residence of U Rajendran in the port premises. Intelligence officials said Rajendran played a key role in the export of mineral sand such as garnets even during the ban and favoured VV Minerals.