Public form human chain to oppose Enayam Port project

The central government has announced that it would set up the Enayam Port project at Colachel coastal village in Kanniyakumari district, at a cost of Rs 28,000 crore. The project envisions to make use of 500 acres of land from Colachel village to setup a commercial port. 

Ever since the project was announced there was widespread opposition from the fishermen community. Strikes, hunger strikes and protests of various nature had been staged against it. 

Fishermen claim that if the project is implemented, their livelihood would be affected. Paying no heed to their appeal, Union Minister, Pon Radhakrishnan, vehemently said that the project would be implemented at any cost.  

As their pleas have only fallen on deaf ears, on Sunday, thousands of people formed a human chain as a mark of protest in Kanniyakumari district. In solidarity with the villagers of Colachel, people along with fishermen from 48 villages and coastal hamlets staged a protest.

A large number of women, youth, college students, children and fishermen of villages from Neerody to Arockiyapuram participated. Killiyur MLA, Rajesh Kumar, also extended support by joining the protestors at Chinnaturai village. Local sources said that Rajesh Kumar was actively involved in the protest. In fact, he visited every house on Saturday and sought the support of the locals. 

One of the protesting fishermen, George Robinson from Nagercoil, said that fishermen had been opposing the project right from the beginning. They also expressed apprehension about the project and submitted several petitions against it. 

Another protester, Anthony Xavier, a fishermen leader, said that such a large number of people participating in the protest shows that a majority of the people are against the project and this is a warning for the central government to stop it. “If the government proceeds with the project by not paying any attention to their demands, we are planning to intensify our protests until the project is stopped,” said Anthony Xavier.