VSP coking coal crisis continues, 2 ships diverted to VPA from Gangavaram port

Visakhapatnam: Even as talks with the agitating workers and displaced families have failed to break the impasse over supply of coking coal stuck at Adani Gangavaram Port Private Limited (AGPPL), the management of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has decided to divert two ships carrying imported raw material to Visakhapatnam Port Authority (VPA) to meet the requirement to ensure normal pushings by its coke oven batteries.

The agitation at Gangavaram Port, located on the backyard of VSP, has almost paralysed the steel production forcing the management to two coke oven batteries, and operate the remaining three with minimal pushings causing fears over possible leakage of hazardous gases and chemicals.

The district administration initiated talks with the agitating workers and their representatives late in the evening on Wednesday, which failed to evoke any positive response. There are about 2,000 workers and around 600 from those who are displaced from Gangavaram and Dibbapalem who are on the protest. The displaced are insisting on reasonable wage hike or one-time compensation, according to INTUC leader Neerukonda Ramachandra Rao.

The dialogue was initiated after the representatives of all the trade unions of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and the office-bearers of Steel Executives Association (SEA) sent SOS to the State Government to resolve the impasse and allow unloading of two ships stranded for past few weeks at Gangavaram due to the agitation. The workers and displaced families have been demanding wage revision, implementation of same work, same pay norm and other demands.

Meanwhile, the ships which brought an estimated 1.6 lakh tonnes of coking coal from Australia and the United States of America, have been diverted to VPA so that the raw material can reach VSP by Friday evening. Sources told Bizz Buzz the district administration is simultaneously holding talks with the representatives of displaced families and workers engaged under two letter-heads to resolve the impasse.

Meanwhile, CPI State assistant secretary JV Satyanarayana Murthy blamed the administration for initiating talks though the Labour Department is supposed to do it. He said all labour laws are being violated by the port management by paying wages in the range of Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 per person deployed for handling cargo in the stockyards whereas for the same work in the berths, remuneration up to Rs 1 lakh is being given.

Earlier, in a video message, BJP leader GVL Narasimha Rao stated that lack of adequate coking coal and non-operation of coke ovens may result in irreparable permanent damage to the coke oven batteries and coke ovens. “This will also result in shutting down of steel plant operations for several months. Unlike blast furnaces, coke ovens have to be made operational all the time, GVL informed. If the looming coking coal crisis is not averted, it could cost VSP a whopping Rs 20,000 crore.

GVL stated that efforts to evaluate 2.5 lakh tonnes of imported coking coal lying at the Gangavaram Port with the help of police and local authorities had failed as the striking employees strongly resisted coal evacuation attempts and the GPL management stayed away fearing trouble and appealed the unions save the steel plant by softening their stand on evacuation of coal.