Coast not clear for Vizhinjam seaport as fishermen won't bite bait

Protests by a clutch of fishermen in the coastal areas of Thiruvananthapuram, backed by the Latin Catholic church, are casting a shadow on the future of Adani Group’s Rs 7,500-crore Vizhinjam International Seaport. The construction work on the port is now being hit by ‘Vizhinjam Chalo’ protests by the fishermen community.

This comes as a huge blow to the company that has seen delays in project schedule owing to natural disasters like the Cyclone Ockhi in 2017 and Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. The company had approached the state government with a revised construction schedule in June this year, based on which the first phase of the project is expected to be complete by December 2024. The earlier deadline for the project was May 2023.

Sources said that 40 per cent of the work on the seaport is complete. Protesters allege that the shores in the area are seeing massive sea erosion, affecting lives and livelihood. The fishermen decided to continue with protests after truce talks with the state government did not end in a consensus.

A source confirmed that although the protests started on July 20, it started affecting construction work only in August, after the protestors shifted base to the main gate of the port.

“If the project completes, suburbs like Poonthura to Valiya Veli will bear the brunt. It has already had a telling impact on operations at Kovalam. The lives of over 50,000 fishermen and their families will be affected due to this,” said Fr Eugene H Pereira, vicar general of the archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram.

A study by the National Institute of Ocean Technology in Chennai indicated that erosion was noticed in Shangumugham (600 metre), Valiyathura (200 metre), and Cheriyathura (100 metre). However, it did not blame the port for this phenomenon.

Experts are of the opinion that a major reason for sea erosion in the area is due to global warming.

“From 2013 onwards, we are reiterating that marine life and fishermen houses will get impacted due to construction work and dredging there. But who will listen to our plea? A better scientific study will reveal the truth,” added Pereira.

At present, around 300 fishermen families are staying in shelters and around 50 acres of seashore lost, claim protesters. Those supporting the port project are citing international vested interests behind the recent protests.

“If Vizhinjam seaport becomes a reality, it will be a huge loss of over Rs 2,000-3,000 crore per annum for ports close by, with Colombo being a major loser. At present, more than 40 per cent of the project is complete and there is no scientific evidence to validate the side of the protesters,” said Elias John, president, Vizhinjam Mother Port Action Council. 

High stakes

• Project cost: Rs 7,525 cr
• Breakwater of total length 3,180m to be developed in Phase-1
• For its gateway containerised cargo, Vizhinjam will compete with Cochin and Tuticorin, and for container transshipment traffic with international ports like Colombo in Sri Lanka, Salalah in Oman, and Singapore