“We oppose the establishment of Enayam International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (EICTT) and not the commercial port proposed by the Union government at Colachel,” the fishermen said in one voice at the monthly fishermen’s grievance meet held at the Collectorate here on Friday.
Fishermen and their representatives who participated in the meet alleged that Union Minister Pon. Radhakrishnan misled Chief Minister Jayalalithaa during his meeting with her in Chennai recently. The Minister told the Chief Minister that the Union government was establishing a commercial port in Colachel and did not give the true picture about the EICTT, the fishermen alleged.
The fishermen and villagers, who are facing possible threat of eviction in the name of land acquisition in and around Enayam village, have been opposing the EICTT project for the last three months.
Kurumbanai Berlin, district secretary of Neithal People’s Movement, Parish Priests Stephen, Anbarasan and John Bosco, and representatives of fishermen spoke in length opposing the EICTT.
The leaders said the Chief Minister had promised to bring a commercial port in Colachel and they expected that she would fulfil her promise.
The fishermen and their leaders urged the district administration to take up the issue with the State government or arrange for a meeting with the Chief Minister so that they could express their fears over the EICTT project.
Presiding over the grievances meeting, Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan said the State government had expressed its support for the EICTT project, hence the fishermen and their representatives could meet the Chief Minister and express their grievances in person.
Meanwhile, Peoples’ Movement Against Enayam International Container Trans-shipment Terminal (PMAEICTT) has called for a massive hunger strike in Devicode on Saturday.
They are also planning a rally of mechanised and country boats from Thengaipattinam to Kanniyakumari on Sunday to press for their demands.
