VASCO
National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) has threatened to forcibly shut all major ports across the country if the Container Transhipment Terminal & Multipurpose Port at Kanyakumari is not withdrawn.
According to a press note issued by NFF General Secretary Olencio Simoes, he attended the mega public meeting at Kanyakumari, to protest the coming up of the new structure built by a private player at Kanyakumari.
"Under the draconian Sagarmala programme, Tamil Nadu has been declared as a Coastal Economic Zone with plans to sell 1,076 km of coastline and 918 km of riverline to private companies for private profits at the cost of lakhs of Tamilians who will be displaced from traditional livelihoods," says the press note.
"Tamil Nadu already has 6 major ports and due to which 247 km
of coastline has been washed away, thus, building another port will further add to the miseries. The Chennai, Kamarajan and VO Chidambarnar Port have been given autonomy under the Major Port Authorities Bill 2020 replacing the Major Port Trust Act 1963 which will now act like state within the state as absolute powers will be given only to Board Director of the Port," the press note adds.
"Consequently the State, Panchayat and Municipalities will have to authority to intervene in the port areas. The Inland Waterways Authority of India Act, 1985 was amended and 9 rivers
of Tamil Nadu are nationalized under the National Waterways Act
2016 where all land across river banks will be acquired under compulsory acquisition act and will be given to private company."
NFF has said the same formula is planned in other Coastal State including Goa.
The NFF, according to the press note, has warned the Central
government from working as CEO of private players while asking it to work in the interest of crores of coastal and inland fishermen who will be displaced from their traditional livelihoods. Further, NFF has stated that if the Container Transhipment Terminal & Multipurpose Port built by a corporate at Kanyakumari is not withdrawn and the plans to build more ports don’t stop then they will be forced to shut all major ports in India.
