Port workers seek steps to revive business on Willingdon Island

Business at Willingdon Island has fallen sharply after container handling was shifted to Vallaparadam in 2011.
| Photo Credit: H. VIBHU

Port workers have called upon the Cochin Port Authority to “revive” business on Willingdon Island so that port operations on the island do not slip into stagnation, triggering a slide towards the old “Chappa” system when work was scarce and allotted to the lucky ones at the whims of middlemen.

Cochin Port Employees’ Organisation general secretary C.D. Nandakumar alleged that the port authority had not taken steps to revive business on the island and blamed the dwindling fortunes of the island business to “lopsided” policies.

The Chappa system, which ended in the 1950s, consisted of middlemen casting metal coins randomly at the crowded, disorderly gathering of workers, who were forced to fight among themselves to grab a coin and secure work for the day. The system ended after vociferous protests and three workers were killed in police firing. According to port unions, the port must consider increasing the volume of defence cargo moving through the port and equipping itself to take advantage of coastal movement of cargo.

Port workers also feel that the port must invest in creating a chain of cold storages to draw cargo to the port and expand the container freight station. Utilising the land belonging to the port in a business-like manner will also help revive the fortunes of business on the island.

Container handling operations, earlier done by the Rajiv Gandhi Container Terminal belonging to the port, were handed over to private operators in 2011. But the port authorities must buy new equipment and recruit more hands to utilise the other opportunities available to the port, Mr. Nandakumar said. Introducing bunkering points, drawing breakbulk cargo, and steps to introduce cost-sharing for deepening of the shipping channel can help port operations on Willingdon Island, he added.