Samithi alleges vested interests behind Vizhinjam port protests

Thiruvananthapuram: Alleging vested interests behind the ongoing protests demanding to stop the construction of the Vizhinjam port by the fisherfolk under the aegis of Latin Archdiocese, a collective of residents has said that the protests have made their life miserable.
“Due to the restrictions imposed by the police near the port, the people living at Mulloor are finding it difficult to move around. Police are also seen supporting the protesters for entering the construction site,” said Janakeeya Pratirodha Samithi chairman Venganoor Gopakumar.
The Vizhinjam port is being constructed 4km south to Vizhinjam at a place called Mulloor. The irony is that the protesters live 4km north to Mulloor at Vizhinjam and 4km south to Mulloor at Adimalathura.
In fact, they are in no way affected by the construction of the port at Vizhinjam. Land of people living in Mulloor was acquired for the port and their traditional shell collection from the sea was stopped due to the port.
“Despite this being the fact, the people at Mulloor keep quiet with a hope of getting a better life once the port comes up. However, now police are messing up the life of Mulloor residents in view of the protests and it must be stopped,” said the Samithi members in a press conference convened here on Tuesday.
The fisherfolk under the Latin Archdiocese became beneficiaries of various rehabilitation packages declared by the state government before and 90% of the port workers are from their community, alleged the collective.
“Despite this being the fact, the ongoing protests are a tactic to bargain with the government. The protesters include people from non-fishing communities and one cannot rule out the fact that the protests are backed by foreign powers. Everybody knows that sea erosion is not due to the construction of the port as it is the result of global warming. We are not against the genuine demands of fisherfolk but the demand to stop construction of the port has some malicious intentions,” said working chairman of the Samithi Mulloor.