The Adani Gangavaram Port Limited (AGPL) authorities held another round of talks with the striking employees on Thursday, which remained inconclusive.
Following the Andhra Pradesh High Court’s direction on 3 May, 2024, to hold talks, AGPL CEO Amit Malik held discussions with the workers on 4 May and 6 May, requesting them to allow the entry of personnel to resume critical operations for supply of raw material to Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL). But the workers refused to allow this.
On Wednesday, Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Director Mr. G.J. Rao and Mr. Amit Malik again invited the workers for talks. But when they tried to enter the port for discussions, the rehabilitation and resettlement (R&R) employees did not allow them inside. Following this, on Thursday, the Adani representatives made another attempt. Though the meeting was cordial, the R&R workers refused to budge until all their demands are met.
It may be recalled that the port faced a series of protests over the past few years. It actively engaged with the project-affected families, especially R&R employees, to resolve their concerns. On 31 August, 2023, an agreement was signed in the presence of the state and district administration, resolving all their concerns. Subsequently, the port fulfilled all its obligations.
In less than eight months, a section of R&R employees raised fresh demands, going beyond the signed agreement, and began a flash strike on 10 April, 2024. They stopped movement of men and material, and blocked raw material supply to critical power and steel units, such as RINL, TANGEDCO, NTPC, NMDC, and SAIL.
