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IN PHOTOS | Vizhinjam violence: Here's why people are protesting against Adani seaport in Kerala

Fisherfolk of Thiruvanthapuram's Vizhinjam and other coastal areas have been protesting for more than four months against the construction of the Rs 7,500-crore-seaport by the Adani Group, which also led to violence on November 26 and 27. The protesters attacked Vizhinjam police station on the night of November 27, injuring several policemen.
Fisherfolk of Thiruvanthapuram's Vizhinjam and other coastal areas have been protesting for more than four months against the construction of the Rs 7,500-crore-seaport by the Adani Group, which also led to violence on November 26 and 27. The protesters a
Fisherfolk of Thiruvanthapuram's Vizhinjam and other coastal areas have been protesting for more than four months against the construction of the Rs 7,500-crore-seaport by the Adani Group, which also led to violence on November 26 and 27. The protesters a
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They have been pressing for their seven-point charter of demands that include stopping the construction work and to conduct a coastal impact study in connection with the multi-crore project. The protesters have been alleging that the unscientific construction of groynes, the artificial sea walls as part of the upcoming port at Vizhinjam, was one of the reasons for increasing coastal erosion in the area. (Express)
They have been pressing for their seven-point charter of demands that include stopping the construction work and to conduct a coastal impact study in connection with the multi-crore project. The protesters have been alleging that the unscientific construction of groynes, the artificial sea walls as part of the upcoming port at Vizhinjam, was one of the reasons for increasing coastal erosion in the area. (Express)
Many of the fisherfolk are members of the Latin Catholic Church, which is helming the protest. The protest began on July 20 in front of the secretariat and later shifted to Mulloor, which is where the main entrance to the port is located, on August 16. Thiruvananthapuram Latin archdiocese vicar-general and protest general convenor Eugine H Pereira said the coastal people had no other option but to fight for their survival. (Express)
Many of the fisherfolk are members of the Latin Catholic Church, which is helming the protest. The protest began on July 20 in front of the secretariat and later shifted to Mulloor, which is where the main entrance to the port is located, on August 16. Thiruvananthapuram Latin archdiocese vicar-general and protest general convenor Eugine H Pereira said the coastal people had no other option but to fight for their survival. (Express)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the violent incidents, saying such protests took place with a 'clear ulterior and heinous intention' to destroy tranquility in the society. The CM, however, did not directly mention the fishermen community who had been staging protests against the upcoming Vizhinjam port and the Latin church which was leading the agitation. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan criticised the violent incidents, saying such protests took place with a 'clear ulterior and heinous intention' to destroy tranquility in the society. The CM, however, did not directly mention the fishermen community who had been staging protests against the upcoming Vizhinjam port and the Latin church which was leading the agitation. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Fisheries Minister Abdurahiman said he was not ready to accept the apology from Father Theodacious D'Cruz, one of the Catholic priests leading the anti-seaport agitation, for his recent communal remarks against him. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Fisheries Minister Abdurahiman said he was not ready to accept the apology from Father Theodacious D'Cruz, one of the Catholic priests leading the anti-seaport agitation, for his recent communal remarks against him. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Meanwhile, the Adani Group on December 2 moved the Kerala High Court seeking the assistance of central forces to continue with construction at the Vizhinjam seaport in Thiruvananthapuram. The state government had earlier informed the court that 40 police personnel were injured in the Vizhinjam police station attack in which 3,000 protesters took part. (Photo |Vincent Pulickal, EPS)
Meanwhile, the Adani Group on December 2 moved the Kerala High Court seeking the assistance of central forces to continue with construction at the Vizhinjam seaport in Thiruvananthapuram. The state government had earlier informed the court that 40 police personnel were injured in the Vizhinjam police station attack in which 3,000 protesters took part. (Photo |Vincent Pulickal, EPS)
The court had multiple times asked the protesters not to block the road to the port premises and have asked the government to remove the shed erected by the agitators as part of their protests. However, the government had on November 7 told the court that it was unable to demolish the protest tents at the port due to the presence of children, pregnant women and aged people among the agitators. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
The court had multiple times asked the protesters not to block the road to the port premises and have asked the government to remove the shed erected by the agitators as part of their protests. However, the government had on November 7 told the court that it was unable to demolish the protest tents at the port due to the presence of children, pregnant women and aged people among the agitators. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
The seven demands: 1. Conduct an impact study and shelf the project till the report is out; 2. Rehabilitation of families who lost their homes to sea rage; 3. Compensation for loved ones in fishing accidents; 4. Financial aid to fisherfolk on days weather warnings are issued; 5. Subsidise kerosene; 6. A mechanism to dredge the Muthalappozhi fishing harbour in Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram district; 7. Effective steps to mitigate coastal erosion. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
The seven demands: 1. Conduct an impact study and shelf the project till the report is out; 2. Rehabilitation of families who lost their homes to sea rage; 3. Compensation for loved ones in fishing accidents; 4. Financial aid to fisherfolk on days weather warnings are issued; 5. Subsidise kerosene; 6. A mechanism to dredge the Muthalappozhi fishing harbour in Anchuthengu in Thiruvananthapuram district; 7. Effective steps to mitigate coastal erosion. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
In August, Adani Port served a notice to the government seeking a compensation of Rs 78.7 crore for the loss incurred due to the protests. (Express)
In August, Adani Port served a notice to the government seeking a compensation of Rs 78.7 crore for the loss incurred due to the protests. (Express)
Vizhinjam port, expected to be completed in 2023, will co-exist with international ports like the ports of Colombo, Singapore and Dubai. State Ports Minister Ahamed Devarkovil said this port has been a long-standing dream of Kerala. 'Today big mother vessels come only to Colombo or Dubai and from there it is transshipped to here. With this new port, all big mother vessels will dock here, so nothing will be able to stop this project from being stalled,' said Devarkovil. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Vizhinjam port, expected to be completed in 2023, will co-exist with international ports like the ports of Colombo, Singapore and Dubai. State Ports Minister Ahamed Devarkovil said this port has been a long-standing dream of Kerala. 'Today big mother vessels come only to Colombo or Dubai and from there it is transshipped to here. With this new port, all big mother vessels will dock here, so nothing will be able to stop this project from being stalled,' said Devarkovil. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
'What has happened in the case of the national highway development, what has happened in the GAIL pipeline project and what has happened in the Edamon-Kochi power highway, the same will happen in the case of Vizhinjam port also,' Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
'What has happened in the case of the national highway development, what has happened in the GAIL pipeline project and what has happened in the Edamon-Kochi power highway, the same will happen in the case of Vizhinjam port also,' Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
The international multi-purpose deepwater seaport project was planned by the UDF government and the agreement with Adani Ports was signed in 2015. The project requires 360 acres of land, of which 130 acres have been reclaimed from the sea. A 10.9-km-long railway line is also part of it. (Express)
The international multi-purpose deepwater seaport project was planned by the UDF government and the agreement with Adani Ports was signed in 2015. The project requires 360 acres of land, of which 130 acres have been reclaimed from the sea. A 10.9-km-long railway line is also part of it. (Express)
According to the agreement, Adani Ports will operate the port for 40 years, extendable by 20 more years, while the state government will get a portion of the revenue after 15 years. Post delays and due to COVID-19, the new deadline for the project is September 2023. The first deadline was December 3, 2019. (Express)
According to the agreement, Adani Ports will operate the port for 40 years, extendable by 20 more years, while the state government will get a portion of the revenue after 15 years. Post delays and due to COVID-19, the new deadline for the project is September 2023. The first deadline was December 3, 2019. (Express)
The Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), appointed by the Adani Vizhinjam Port Ltd, in its August 2022 report admitted there was erosion on the northern coast of the port and accretion in the port area and its southern coastal villages from 2015 to 2021. The coastal erosion has happened on the northern side (Poonthura, Valiyathura, Shanghumugham) and sea accretion in the south (Poovar, Adimalathura) since the work on the project started. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
The Chennai-based National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), appointed by the Adani Vizhinjam Port Ltd, in its August 2022 report admitted there was erosion on the northern coast of the port and accretion in the port area and its southern coastal villages from 2015 to 2021. The coastal erosion has happened on the northern side (Poonthura, Valiyathura, Shanghumugham) and sea accretion in the south (Poovar, Adimalathura) since the work on the project started. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Though the report said the impact of port activity on either side of the coast has less significance, it concluded by saying that continuous monitoring of the port activity and its impact on the coast has to be carried out. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Though the report said the impact of port activity on either side of the coast has less significance, it concluded by saying that continuous monitoring of the port activity and its impact on the coast has to be carried out. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Protestors have claimed 500 homes had been lost in several coastal hamlets. Another fisherman claimed that hundreds of families, including his own, have spent the previous four years living in government godowns because strong waves and coastal erosion had wrecked their houses. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
Protestors have claimed 500 homes had been lost in several coastal hamlets. Another fisherman claimed that hundreds of families, including his own, have spent the previous four years living in government godowns because strong waves and coastal erosion had wrecked their houses. (Photo | B P Deepu, EPS)
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