Ongoing protests over Vizhinjam Port Project

Context

Vizhinjam near Thiruvananthapuram, is on the boil due to the under-construction Vizhinjam Port Project, from both sea and land.

About Vizhinjam Port Project

• The Vizhinjam International Transhipment Deep-water Multipurpose Seaport is an ambitious project taken up by the Government of Kerala.
• It is designed primarily to cater container transhipment besides multi-purpose and break bulk cargo.
• The port is currently being developed in a landlord model with a Public Private Partnership component on a design, build, finance, operate and transfer (“DBFOT”) basis.

What is the crux of the protest?

• The protestors have been opposing the construction work by the Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited.
• Adani group is developing the port on DBFOT basis.
• The port work has aggravated the coastal erosion along the coast of Thiruvananthapuram.
• Further, around 300 families along the coastline were shifted to relief camps after their houses were destroyed due to high-intensity coastal erosion.

Importance of Vizhinjam project

• The port is located on the southern tip of the Indian Peninsula, just 10 nautical miles from the major international sea route and east-west shipping axis.
• It has a natural water depth of more than 20 m within a nautical mile from the coast.
• The Vizhinjam port is likely to play a pivotal role in the maritime development of the country and Kerala.
• The commissioning of the port is expected to leverage the growth of 17 minor ports in the State along with creating thousands of employment opportunities.