Sahitya Akademi award winner and member of National Shipping Board Joe D’ Cruz has urged Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari to give up the proposal to set up an International Container Transhipment Terminal (ICTT) at Kovalam near Kanniyakumari, saying the parameters that stood against the ICTT at Enayam were also applicable to Kovalam.
In a letter to Mr. Gadkari, Mr. Cruz argued that the ICTT had become an old business model and if India wanted to establish itself in the domain, it should have developed its ICTT capability 30 years ago.
“For a successful ICTT, we need thousands of acres of land, millions of tonnes of cargo and contributing ports [around the ICTT]. The facilities are not there in Kanniyakumari district and cannot be developed even in future as the entire district is directly or indirectly agro- and fisheries based. There is no space for heavy industrialisation. Moreover, no Indian port, including the Tuticorin port, will be ready to send its import/export containers to Kovalam ICTT just for transhipment purpose,” he added.
He said what the Kanniyakumari district with its vibrant coastline needed was world-class fishing harbours. “The existing Thengaipatnam and Muttom Jeppiaar Fishing Harbour can be developed to international standards with receiving, storing and marketing facilities. The Coast Guard can also have a base there.
“Please remember Kanniyakumari is the immaculate feet of our Bharatmatha and hosts the world famous meditation centre of Swami Vivekananda. Let us not disturb the purity, serenity and sanctity of the sanctum sanctorum of our beloved mother,” he said.
