Workers block entry into Adani Gangavaram Port over settlement deductions and pending job assurances

A tense situation prevailed at Adani Group’s Gangavaram Port on Monday as workers, under various trade unions, staged a protest urging the management to honour their pending commitments. They blocked the port entry, prompting police intervention to defuse the situation. Tension escalated at the main gate when the police prevented the workers from entering the port, leading to a brief altercation.

Hundreds of workers, accompanied by their families including women and children, reached the port in the morning and raised slogans against the authorities and the government. They demanded that their long-pending issues be addressed immediately, warning of intensified protests if the delay continued.

The agitation resulted in a temporary halt of operations at the main gate, with the protesters insisting on the fulfilment of rehabilitation assurances. Officials familiar with the matter said the dispute concerns a one-time settlement package finalised earlier in the presence of union leaders, 499 displaced families, port management representatives and government officials.

During those talks, the port management had agreed to pay ₹27 lakh to each beneficiary without specifying any tax deductions. However, the beneficiaries later said that after submitting Form 10E, the port deducted ₹2 lakh from each payment and released ₹25 lakh instead of the agreed amount. Tax auditors indicated that while some beneficiaries may recover ₹1 lakh to ₹1.5 lakh upon filing returns, many will still face a liability of ₹50,000 to ₹1 lakh.

They also said that five promised jobs remain unfulfilled and estimated the total unresolved obligation at around ₹3.75 crore.

Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao visited the port and held discussions with union leaders, displaced families, the Collector, police officials, tax auditors and the Chief Executive Officer of Gangavaram Port, Amit Malik. The CEO is learnt to have said the issue would be placed before the head office.

Following the intervention, the displaced families agreed to call off the protest and operations at the main gate resumed.