PARADIP: Police on Friday conducted a flag march to maintain law and order in Paradip port. It has been a tumultuous last few of days for the port town which has been rocked by protests and agitations. While truck owners’ associations protested in front of Paradip Refinery of IOCL over transporting of pet coke, drivers of oil tankers staged demonstration in front of Indian Oil terminal. The dumper owners’ association is also staging stir in front of Seaways Shipping and Logistics Pvt Ltd, a stevedoring agency, over payment of dues.The local police, sources said, have taken confidence-building measures to defuse the situation. Top police officials are interacting with the agitators, IOCL and district officials to restore normalcy in the port town.
Paradip IIC Subrahansu Sekhar Nayak said, ‘’As they are apprehending law and order situation due to the protests, the flag march was held on the main road from Atharbanki to Zero Point. Ten platoons of police force conducted the flag march.”
Pet coke transport row: Truck owners withdraw stir
After staging protest and blocking the road to Paradip Refinery for the last three days over pet coke transportation, the Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) of truck owners’ associations has called off the stir following a discussion with IOCL authorities. Sources said an agreement was reached between the JCC and IOCL for smooth transport of pet coke from the refinery.
Paradip Truck Owner’s Association president Sumanta Biswal and member of JCC Alok Parida said the IOCL authorities have given assurance to transport pet coke as per the agreement of the district administration. According to the previous agreement, local trucks should be engaged in transportation of pet coke, they added. Abhaychandpur IIC Manoranjan Chaudhary said normalcy has been restored in the IOCL area after the agitation was withdrawn. ‘’Anyone violating the law or illegally blocking roads will be firmly dealt with as per the law,’’ he added.