“Even though officials like MP Samantray, president of Indian National Port and Dock Workers’ Federation and former, are in touch with the top leaders in the UPA government, we have also sent an SOS to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to intervene in the matter, in the interest of the country,” said Mohan Aswani, president of the Kandla Port Karmachari Sangh and general secretary of the state unit of the National Trade Union Congress.

According to him, there were no other options left with the Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce and Industries but to call for the strike, as the ministry was not resolving the problems of the port users or township dwellers.

Kandla Transport and Dock Workers’ Union (KTDWU), the labour union in Kandla with the largest membership, also wants early solutions to the problems affecting the people in the twin townships of Adipur and Gandhidham, both of which are economically dependent on the port.

“Although we strongly support the Chamber for the cause it had taken up on behalf of more than two lakh people in the Kandla complex, we cannot go on a strike with them as we have to first send a legal notice. Besides, there was no direct involvement of any labour issues, even though every port and dock worker indirectly has his or her stake. It would be better if the settlement is reached with the Chamber and the proposed strike is averted,” said Manohar Bellani, general secretary, KTDWU.

He added that the port would be losing a traffic of 2 lakh tonnes per day if the strike was not brought to an end.