Okha boat owners strike over hike in berthing rate

Rajkot: The members of the Ferry Boat Owners Association at Okha port went on a flash strike Friday morning over the hike in berthing charging by the Gujarat Maritime Board (GMB), only to call it off within a few hours following intervention of GMB officials.
During the period the boat owners were on strike, hundreds of pilgrims wanting to visit the temple on Beyt Dwarka, an island off the Okha coast, were stranded.
There are 164 boats ferrying pilgrims to Beyt Dwarka everyday. According to an estimate nearly 15,000-20,000 people visit island daily depending on the season.
The boat owners have been protesting since March against the hike in berthing charges by GMB on Okha shore and Beyt Dwarka shore.
Salim Sodha president of boat owners’ association said, “Initially the berthing charge was Rs 4 per tonne per year which was increased to Rs 91 per tonne per year. Currently the charge is Rs 96. We have made representation to GMB but it refused to listen to our demands saying that election Model Code of Conduct (MCC) was in force. We had warned them of strike but they did not pay heed to us.”
As soon as boat owners went on strike, GMB started negotiation and after much coaxing they agreed to begin ferrying passengers. “The port authority asked us not to pay the berthing charges till the issue is resolved by GMB and we have agreed to it,” said Sodha.
When contacted Okha port officer R K Raman said “After the passenger fair was hiked from Rs 8 to Rs 20the berthing rate was increased. I have forwarded the boat owners’ concerns to the top bosses of GMB for further action.”
According to boat owners’ association the number of ferry boats have increased over the last few years and as a result one boat get chance to ferry passengers only once in four days.
They said that GMB was also charging license fee and third party insurance premium for passengers from the boat owners.
A pilgrim who came from Uttar Pradesh said, “We didn’t know about the strike. I have been standing in queue since 6am to go to Beyt Dwarka. The state tourism department should ensure that visitors are not troubled because of strikes. They need to resolve the issue with the boat owners.”