Catholic group threatens to intensify protest against port project

Report: UCAN. The Adani Group has announced that construction would begin on November 1 and it would be completed in less than 1,000 days.

A Catholic group in Kerala has threatened to intensify protest against the Vizhinjam seaport project unless the state government allays fears over the project before construction begins on it.
The Vizhinjam Port Action Council, which works under the Latin Catholic archdiocese of Trivandrum said government should come out with concrete rehabilitation plans for thousands of fishing families who will be displaced by the 7,525-crore project.
Unless the government allays the fears regarding the project, the council would go ahead with agitations, action council led by vicar general Father Eugene H Pereira said on Sunday.
The meeting, attended by forane officials and political committee members of the Archdiocese, was held to review the outcome of the discussions held with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on August 15 and 19.
Last week, Chandy had announced that the government would hold a third meeting after Onam. Earlier, Archbishop M Soosa Pakiam had issued a pastoral letter against the project.
The Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Council (KRLCC) had later echoed the warning. Following the first round of talks with Chandy, the church had softened its stand ahead of the government signing the concession agreement with the Adani Group on August 17.
The Adani Group has announced that construction would begin on November 1 and it would be completed in less than 1,000 days.
Action council leaders said on Sunday that they expected a favorable decision at the third round of discussions with Chandy.
The council also decided to hold meetings at the eight foranes to generate awareness on the concerns over the project. Marches and street plays would also be organized under the aegis of the youth wing.
On August 26, a meeting of the Fisheries’ Coordination Committee, the Matsyathozhilali Forum, Kerala Latin Catholic Association, the Kerala Latin Catholic Women's’ Association and the Kerala Catholic Youth Movement will be held to decide the future course of action. Fr Thomas Netto, Fr James Culas, Fr Cyrus Kalathil, Pulluvila Stanley and National Fisheries Forum national secretary T Peter spoke.