Fishermen oppose DPR for Enayam port

According to PMAEICTT coordinator and former three-time chairman of Colachel municipality J. Jasiah, the 260-day time frame for DPR preparation from November 15, 2015 ended without much work being done as fishermen prevented staff from taking land measurements. “They were also unable to venture into the sea for related work” Jasiah said. 

Talking to DTNext he said, “The 700-page feasibility study by the company now entrusted with the DPR clearly states that a 10 km-long and half kilometre-wide stretch between Enayam and Colachel would be affected. It is here that 12 fishing villages with a population of 60,000 reside. All dwellings are practically on the shore and fall within the 500 metres decreed by the CRZ (coastal regulatory zone). Similarly, the 6-square km area meant as ‘back up area for the port and another 27 square kilometres for the breakwater and harbour construction would ensure that local fishermen lost their traditional fishing grounds and where they usually fish for shrimp and lobsters. Fishermen use traditional craft and not mechanized boats.”

South Asian Fishermen’s Fraternity (SAFF) general secretary A. Churchill said, “We oppose the DPR as it will be based on the feasibility study and when the latter has clearly stated that fishermen would be affected, what is the need for a new DPR?”

Lawyer and activist Jo.Tamilselvan who has authored a booklet about the proposed Enayam project said, “Why should the government go ahead with a project which locals oppose totally? The feasibility study clearly reveals that all fishing hamlets will be affected.” 

Meanwhile union minister of state for shipping Pon Radhakrishnan recently opened a site office for Enayam port at Tholayavattam village near Karungal where the district’s 6 MLAs, AIADMK district secretary and the district collector did not participate.

Asked what work site staff were doing when they were opposed by locals totally, Toothukudi VOC port PRO Sasiraj said, “The three staff are currently involved in liaison work with the Kanniyakumari district Collectorate at Nagercoil.”

Jasiah said “PMAEICTT legal wing is thinking of filing a case against Prasar Bharathi for allowing a local FM station to carry ads on Enayam when the project was yet to start. Our earlier request to ban such ads resulted in their being stopped for day, but resumed on Friday on the advice of the information and broadcasting ministry.” 

Asked about the present scenario, minister Pon Radhakrishnan said “I have no information till date on officials being prevented from accessing the site by local fishermen.”

Accepting that the site office at Tholayavattam was opened only with former MLAs and not sitting MLAS, he said, “How can locals say they will be affected by the project without when they do not allow the DPR to be completed? It is the DPR which will clearly state the project’s nitty gritty in detail”