Thiruvananthapuram: The Central Govt has ditched Kerala in favour of Tamil Nadu, by granting in-principle clearance to a Rs 25,000-crore transshipment harbour project near Colachel fishing harbour.
This move has dealt a severe blow to Kerala’s upcoming Vizhinjam harbour project as the central govt-sposored port at Colachel is coming up just 35 km away from Vizhinjam, thereby dimming its business potential to almost a big zero. If Colachel port becomes functional, Kerala will have one more loss making ports in its kitty, after the Vallarpadam Terminal tragedy. The Adani Group is developing the Rs 7,525-crore project in Vizhinjam.
Union Minister of State for Shipping Pon Radhakrishnan, who represents Kanyakumari in the Lok Sabha and the lone BJP MP from Tamil Nadu is pushing for Colachel. The Rs 25,000-crore transhipment harbour project is to come up at at Enayam, a village 10 km north of Colachel’s fishing harbour.
Meanwhile, protest is brewing at Colachel against the upcoming port as villagers fear land acquisition. A one-day hunger strike will be held at Puttetti town near Colachel on July 15.
