Vizhinjam fishermen protest over compensation package

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The works of construction of breakwater for Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited was disrupted here on Saturday after the local fishermen, led by the Vizhinjam parish council members, laid siege to the worksite. The agitation was a protest measure against the state government for failing to keep the promise of a compensation package announced for the local fishermen, whose livelihood would be affected once the port commences its operations.
Around 10am on Saturday a group of fishermen led by 26 members of the Vizhinjam parish council reached the worksite and stopped all ongoing construction works. They demanded the labourers to vacate the worksite and then laid siege to the site by blocking the road leading to the port by placing their boats across the road. The agitation continued till 2pm until the representatives of Adani Group who are carrying out the works and the officials of revenue department despatched by the district collector came to the spot and held talks with the fishermen. The fishermen decided to call off the agitation after they were promised a meeting with the district collector on March 11, when their grievances will be heard.
Speaking to TOI, parish council vice-president S Muthappan, who himself is a fisherman, said that the government was yet to fulfil the promise of providing a compensation package to the fishermen, especially those who went for fishing in motorized boats fitted with outboard engines.
“When the works of the port commenced, the government promised each boat four litres of kerosene per day considering the extra kilometres we have to travel for fishing once the port starts functioning. But, this promise was never kept. Initially each boat was given 80 litres per month, which is around 2.5 litres per day. But, this too stopped one year ago,” Muthappan said adding that this was only a token protest and a massive agitation would be launched if the meeting on March 11 failed.
The fishermen had launched a similar agitation in October 2017, during the initial stages of port construction, for the delay in distribution of compensation package.