NAGERCOIL
Retired bureaucrat M.G. Devasahayam has urged the Central and State governments to give up the proposal to set up a seaport between Kovalam and Manakkudi contending that the project would irreparably damage land and marine resources. Besides, he felt it would undermine the tranquillity prevailing among different communities.
In a memorandum addressed to Kanniyakumari Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan, he claimed that the port project would only facilitate Indian corporate and multinational companies to indulge in ‘ocean grabbing’ similar to what was done during the last decade for ‘land grabbing’ through Special Economic Zones.
He said that the “dangerous, devastating and destructive ultra-mega port project” was being rushed through on the extremely eco-sensitive coast between Kanniyakumari, Kovalam and Manakudi, which has nine of the 11 features of Coastal Regulation Zone – 2011 Notification issued under The Environmental Protection Act – 1986, wherein construction activities were forbidden.
The proposed seaport where bulk coal and oil were to be imported would affect life and livelihood in the farming villages of Muhilankudiyiruppu, Koilvillai, Kinnikannanvillai, Kombanvillai, Ilandhaidianvillai, and Narianvillai and major fishing villages of Kovalam and East and West Manakudi and neighbouring areas, he said.
