Kerala to allot Rs 220 crore for rehabilitation in Vizhinjam Port

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Ports minister K Babu said that the state government has set apart Rs 220 crore, or 8.2 percent of the total cost of Rs 2690 crore the state will bear for the construction of the Vizhinjam Port, for the rehabilitation of the displaced and also for the environment.

“While Rs 140 crore has been earmarked for the protection of the environment and for the state’s social responsibility programmes, an additional Rs 80 crore has been earmarked for social welfare programmes in the region,” the minister said in the Assembly on Thursday.

He was responding to a submission moved by Janata Dal (Secular) member Jameela Prakasam. She wanted the amount set apart for rehabilitation and for the sustainable development of the region to be tripled.The minister ruled out inserting new clauses in the concession agreement that would be signed on August 17.

The social responsibility works planned are: a drinking water project, the construction of a fishing harbour, a fish processing park, a logistics training centre, a solid waste management plant, the upgradation of Mulloor School and health-related activities.

The minister said that the drinking water project had begun in April 2013. Already, 1.5 MLD of water is being distributed to various parts of Vizhinjam.

“A rehabilitation package of Rs 8.6 crore, as mandated in the environment study report submitted in 2013, has been devised for local families that will be affected by the project,” the minister said.

As part of the package, over 250 clam-collectors, 75-odd shore seine (kambavala) fishermen will be permanently rehabilitated and over 2000 fishworkers will be temporarily rehabilitated during the construction period.

A five-member committee has been formed with the RDO as chairman to identify the beneficiaries, the minister added.