Thiruvananthapuram – The General Convener of the Samara Samiti said that the construction of Vizhinjam Port should be stopped and an expert study should be conducted by including fishermen’s representatives. Eugene H. Pereira. The government’s position that the construction of Vizhinjam port cannot be stopped is not acceptable. In this situation, the struggle will become stronger.
The government is responding to the demands raised by the strike committee in a fluid manner. It was the miserable living conditions in the relief camp, Valiyatura Godown, that brought the fishermen to the scene of the strike. The Chief Minister says that Rs 5,500 per month will be given as house rent to those who have lost their homes due to coastal erosion and are living in camps. You can’t get a rental house for this amount in urban area. A large deposit is required to rent a house. The government should rent the house and provide it to the inmates of the camp. It is said that the district collector has been assigned to hold a discussion in this regard, but the discussion has not yet taken place.
The government should release the Ramachandran Nair Commission report appointed by the state government to study the CAG report of 2017 which pointed out maladministration in port construction contract systems. Mon said that it is the government that said it will pay three times the price of the property when it takes land for K-rail and sees the fishermen who are displaced for development as destitute. Eugene H. Pereira said. The convener of the strike committee Fr. Theodosius D’Cruz also attended the press conference.
English Summary: Government’s stand on Vizhinjam port is not acceptable, says Eugene H Perera