Mumbai Notes

A case in point is the government8217;s permission to Pamp;O Australia to construct two modern berths within the JNPT, of which one berth has been commissioned this year. Some leading lines have already diverted their container vessels to the new berth, while JNPT is suffering an estimated revenue loss of Rs 1 crore per day, said sources.

Meanwhile, the International Transport Workers8217; Federation, of which the dockers are members, have raided some 13 vessels at Mumbai. According to ITF inspector Maruti Retrikar, the raids have led to the signing of agreement, which would ensure a minimum monthly wage of 1,200 onwards for able bodied seamen.

Honour conferred
Panchal Samaj Madhavarti Mandal, Goregaon recently honoured Ashok Dahanukar 48 in recognition of the letters of appreciation sent by three french presidents, Georges Pompidou, Francois Mitterrand and Jacques Chirac, praising him for his books in conversational French.