No change in Thoppumpady harbour toll collection till February-end

Stakeholders’ concerns to be taken into consideration: CPT chairperson

A meeting convened by Cochin Port Trust (CPT) Chairperson M. Beena of stakeholders and trade union representatives at the Cochin Fisheries Harbour at Thoppumpady on Monday decided to continue the status quo on revenue collection in the wharf area till February-end. The new arrangement, scheduled to begin on February 15, in which a Mumbai-based private company was awarded the task of toll collection through a competitive bidding process will remain suspended.

Ms. Beena said those who participated in the meeting expressed their apprehensions. Their concerns were being taken into consideration and no unilateral action would be taken by the port authorities, she added.

Fisheries union sources said the Harbour Advisory Board would meet to discuss the issues involved and reach a consensus. Jackson Pollayil of Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation, an independent union representing traditional fishers, said the issues involved building basic infrastructure for harbour operations. Mr. Pollayil, who attended the meeting, said the stakeholders wanted the CPT authorities to address some of the basic issues before a new arrangement was made for revenue collection. The present arrangement engaging CPT employees for toll collection would continue until a consensus was reached, he added.