Port-based pollution and depletion of coastline needs to be seriously addressed, Governor P. Sathasivam has said.
Inaugurating a CII conference on ‘Port-led Industrialisation & Community-Development-Leveraging Vizhinjam’ here on Monday, the Governor said that those who operate the upcoming port should implement the green protocol in as many areas of port activity as possible.
‘Think ahead’
It is well-known that Vizhinjam has evoked much interest in the port community as it offers several strategic and geographical advantages, along with business opportunities. “We should take measures to leverage its true potential,” he said.
For this, we should think at least two decades ahead and consider the successful development models across the world.
Role models
“We could learn from nations such as China, South Korea, Japan and the U.S., which have effectively used their coastline for port-led development.”
The Governor suggested that fisherfolk be encouraged to switch from traditional modes of fishing to the advanced mechanised mode so that the coastal community would gain economic progress through safer, productive fishing. “We should also remember that during calamities like Cyclone Ockhi, we had more casualties from among the traditional fisherfolk,” he said.
Minister for Ports Ramachandran Kadannappally; Gert Heijkoop, Consul General of the Netherlands for south India; Rajesh Jha, Chief Executive Officer, Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt. Ltd.; S. Sajikumar, Chairman, CII Kerala State Council; and M.R. Narayanan, Chairman, CII Thiruvananthapuram Zone spoke. Experts spoke on port-led industrialisation, area and community development, and port city.