NAGERCOIL:
We oppose establishing Enayam International Container Transhipment Terminal (EICTT) and not the Commercial Port proposed by the union government at Colachel, fishermen said in one voice at the monthly fishermen grievances meeting held at the collectorate on Friday.
Fishermen and their representatives participated in the grievances meeting alleged that the Union Minister had misled the Chief Minister Jayalalithaa during his meeting in Chennai recently. The Minister had apprised the Chief Minister that the union government is establishing Commercial Port in Colachel and not the true picture about EICTT, fishermen alleged.
Fishermen and the villagers who are facing possible threat of eviction in the name of
land acquisition in and around Enayam village, opposing EICTT project for the last three
months. The Fishermen and the Peoples’ Movement Against Enayam International
Container Transhipment Terminal (PMAEICTT) had staged various forms of agitations
opposing the EICTT.
Kurumbanai Berlin, District Secretary of the Neithal People’s Movement, Parish Priests Stephen, Anbarasan, John Bosco and representatives of fishermen spoke in length about opposing EICTT.
The leaders said that the Chief Minister had promised to bring commercial port in Colachel and they expect that she would fulfill her promise, they said.
The fishermen and their leaders urged the district administration to take up the issue with the state government or arrange a meeting with the Chief Minister to express their fear over the EICTT project.
Presiding over the grievances meeting, Collector Sajjansingh R. Chavan said that state government had expressed its support for the EICTT project, hence, fishermen and their representatives can meet the Chief Minister and express their grievances in person, he adds.
Meanwhile, the Peoples’ Movement Against Enayam International Container Transhipment Terminal (PMAEICTT) has called for massive hunger strike in Devicode on Saturday.
The organization along with the fishermen community has also planning for a rally of mechanized and country boats from Thengaipattinam to Kanniyakumari on Sunday to press their demand.
