Post fishermen protests, Centre to relocate sea port in Kanniyakumari district

From the date of announcement, fishermen had been protesting against the proposed project. Though the officials said that Rs 1,500 cr of trans-shipment cost would be reduced, if the port is set up at Enayam, fishermen were not ready to buy the arguments of the officials. In a recent meeting held at Goa, during the first week of November, the Union Shipping Ministry decided to shift the location of the Port from Enayam to Kovalam.

According to officials, the proposed port location is situated between Kovalam and Keezhamanakudi. The site is just 14 nautical miles away from the International Sea route and is even more advantageous than Enayam because of better road and rail connectivity.

The same arguments are put forth by Kanniyakumari District Consumer Protection Association. SR Sreeram, president of the Association, said that Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, is trying hard to bring a major port to the district and it is a highly appreciable gesture. A port in the district would help during natural calamities. It will be easier to deploy ships and aircraft to help the affected areas and people. 

Also, the newly proposed site had very few marine resources because of rocky terrain and so very few fishermen are residing in the hamlets situated close to the proposed site. The proposed project will not harm fishermen and government should proceed with the project, said Sreeram.

Anti-nuke activist, SP Udayakumar, said that if fish jetties and artificial buildings are constructed in the coastal areas there would sea erosion and natural resources in the area such as rocks would be destroyed.

The livelihood of fishermen would be affected as a number ships would arrive at the port and there is every possibility of properties of fishermen getting damaged. The government is playing its old tune of development of Kanniyakumari district but if the port comes, the entire would be affected by pollution and the patronage of tourists would come down, said Udayakumar.