Kerala: HC Orders Police Protection For Adani's Vizhinjam Port Project Amid Protests In Thiruvananthapuram

A large number of coastal people have been staging massive protest outside the main entrance of the multi-purpose seaport, located near Mulloor in Thiruvananthapuram, since August 16.

New Delhi: Amid protests by locals, the Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the state government to provide police protection to the ongoing construction of Vizhinjam port project by Adani Ports, news agency PTI reported. The HC also directed the protestors to not trespass into the port premises and agitate peacefully outside.

The construction work should not be obstructed, the court ordered.

According to the PTI report, the order came on a petition filed by Adani Ports, which is constructing the Vizhinjam port in Thiruvananthapuram, that sought protection from the protesters. The plea further alleged that the police and the state government were not taking any action in this regard.

It is to be noted that a large number of coastal people have been staging massive protest outside the main entrance of the multi-purpose seaport, located near Mulloor in Thiruvananthapuram, since August 16.

They have been pressing 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. They alleged that the projects have affected their livelihood and earlier promises on rehabilitation were not met by the government.

They have also been saying that the unscientific construction of groynes, the artificial sea walls, locally known as ‘pulimutt’, as part of the upcoming port, was one of the reasons behind the increasing coastal erosion in the southern district.

Notably, a couple of days back, the Kerala High Court had pulled up some protestors of the fishermen community saying that the construction work could not be halted and that they should voice their dissent in an appropriate forum.

A single bench of justice Anu Sivaraman observed that the demonstration should not affect the ongoing work. “The protest can be registered, but it cannot affect the project. Protest can be registered in a lawful manner,” the court had earlier said.

As per reports, the construction work for the multi-utility trans-shipment port was disrupted for two weeks after the protestors entered the site demanding suspension of all works.