Protests against Vizhinjam port project ended after talks with government: Kerala Minister
In a social media post, Kerala port minister Ahammad Devarkovil on Tuesday said the protests against the Vizhinjam port project by the Adani group have ended after talks with the state government. He thanked all those who cooperated with the government.
The protests, which started in August this year, were led by local residents and fisherfolk led by the Latin Catholic archdiocese, who demanded a halt to the Vizhinjam project. They also demanded officials conduct a coastal erosion study.
The stalemate ended after Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan held an emergency meeting with the committee heading the protests. The government agreed to provide a rent of Rs 5,500 to all those families who will be displaced from the Vizhinjam coastal zone.
However, the protesters will conduct a separate study on the coastal erosion that will be a result of the port construction.
The protests escalated last week when agitators stormed the Vizhinjam Police Station in Thiruvananthapuram, injuring several police personnel.