THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government will earmark Rs 220 crore, which is 8.2 per cent of its share in Vizhinjam International Seaport Project, for environment protection and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, Fisheries and Ports Minister K Babu told the Assembly on Thursday.
The Minister was replying to a submission by Jameela Prakasam of the JD(S), who demanded that the amount spent for conservation and CSR in the Vizhinjam project should be increased three-fold. “Out of the revised estimate cost of Rs 7,525 crore for the project, the state government has to spend Rs 2,690 crore. As suggested by the Environment Impact Assessment report of 2013, the government has already earmarked Rs 140 crore for activities relating to social commitment,” Babu said.
The Minister added that along with Rs 140 crore, an additional Rs 80 crore has also been earmarked for similar activities, taking the total to Rs 220 crore. “This amount is roughly 8.2 per cent of the state’s share in the project,” he said.
Further explaining the break up of Rs 220 crore, the Minister said that Rs 180 crore will be spent for social responsibility initiatives, including building a fishing harbour at a cost of Rs 96 crore, and the remaining amount will be utilised for conservation efforts.
The social commitment initiatives include a drinking water project, fishing harbour, fish processing park, logistics training centre, solid waste disposal project, upgradation of Muloor School and health care programmes.
The Minister said that the EIA report has proposed a rehabilitation package of Rs 8.6 crore for those people whose livelihood would be affected due to the project. Under this proposal, 2,325 people, who are engaged in fishing and related activities, will be rehabilitated.
“A five member committee has already been formed with the Revenue Divisional Officer as the chairman and Fisheries Department Joint Director as the convenor to identify the beneficiaries under the project. An appeal committee, with the District Collector as Chairman and Fisheries Director as convenor has also been constituted,” Babu said.
The committee has been asked to settle all rehabilitation issues before November 1, 2015, when the construction activity for the project is slated to commence, the Fisheries Minister said. He added that efforts are also on to include Vizhinjam under Sagar Mala project to ensure more local development activities. “The company to be floated by Adani Ports will be asked to carry out its various CSR initiatives as laid down in the Companies Act of 2013, Babu said.
657 Unauthorised Constructions in City
T’Puram: As many as 657 unauthorised constructions have been identified in the capital city, Urban Affairs Minister Manjalamkuzhi Ali informed the Assembly on Thursday. Replying to a question by P C George MLA, Ali said that steps have been taken under the Kerala Municipal Building Rules. In the Attpira zonal office limits alone, 16 unauthorised constructions have been identified. Six of the buildings are in Kulathoor, five in Kazhakkoottam, and one each in Attipra, Valiya Veli, Pallithura, Sreekaryam and Karimanal.