Adani Group seeks Kerala government's urgent intervention

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Adani Group has written to the state government seeking its urgent intervention in ending the ongoing protest before the Vizhinjam port construction site. The company has written to the chief secretary stating that they have been incurring a loss to the tune of Rs 2 crore per day ever since the protest began on August 16. They said they have suffered a total loss of Rs 100 crore due to the ongoing agitation.
The Adani Group also has made it clear that if the government does not intervene now, the company won't be able to keep up the promise of completing the first phase of the project in September 2023.
Meanwhile, ports minister Ahamed Devarkoil too raised a similar concern over the completion of the first phase of the project due to the ongoing protest. He said that the government has accepted all of the demands of the protesters except stopping the port construction work.
"The government is ready to have more talks with the Vizhinjam Samara Samithi and also with the Adani Group," he said.
The company, in its letter to the chief secretary, has said they are unable to carry out the work since construction materials are not being allowed to enter the premises.
"The protest has delayed the arrival of several of the raw materials required for construction. This is delaying the construction work. Unless the government intervenes to settle the agitation and provide protection to the construction site, the port work will be delayed further," the company has reportedly said in the letter.
The minister too has echoed similar concern and said that the company's grievances will have to be accepted since it is a fact that the construction work has been stalled due to the agitation.
The company authorities have said that due to the agitation the construction of the pulimuttu is not taking place. For almost two months no work is being able to carry out at the construction site due to the strike. The strike has now completed 53 days, it said.
As per the agreement with the state government, the Adani Group was supposed to complete the first phase in December 2019. However, it got delayed due to certain adverse climatic conditions and hence it was decided to commission the first phase by September 2023. The Adani Ports CEO Karan Adani had said in July this year that the first vessel will reach Vizhinjam port in March 2023.