Tamil Nadu
,
Kovalam
,
Kanyakumari
Published :
Jan 2017
|
Updated :
Tamil Nadu Government Revives Plan to Construct Kanyakumari Port Despite Protests by Fisherfolk In Past
Reported by
Sumana
Legal Review by
Anmol Gupta
Edited by
Anupa Kujur
Households affected
100000
People affected
2016
Year started
Land area affected
Households affected
100000
People Affected
2016
Year started
Land area affected
Key Insights
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Port
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
Sector
Infrastructure
Reason/Cause of conflict
Port
Conflict Status
Ongoing
Ended
Legal Status
Region Classification
Rural
Ended
1
Summary

In 2016, the Centre proposed to build a container terminal at Enayam village in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. The port, to be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 27,570 crores, aims to tap into the sea traffic between Europe and Asia and is part of the 'Sagarmala' Plan to have a string of ports across the country. The port has a controversial history. It started as a fishing harbour in Colachel, then was expanded into a transhipment harbour, and later shifted to Enayam, a fishing village near Colachel. Following protests, the port was moved to an area between Keelamanakudi and Kovalam villages near Kanniyakumari. Members of fishing communities in these areas were concerned about the effects the port would have on their livelihood, as it could destroy the marine biodiversity in the area. On January 12, 2018, fisherfolk around Kovalam village observed a fast to protest the construction of the port. On August 26, 2020, Land Conflict Watch contacted lawyer Stanley Casmic Sundar, who said that the Government hasn't followed up on the project since 2018, and seems to have dropped it. According to a report dated February 2021, the government is making fresh attempts to build a port in the same area and claim that this will not lead to displacement because there are no fishing villages in the identified land.

2
Fact Sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Opposition against environmental degradation

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

Other Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Scrapping of the Project

Region Classification

Rural

Type of Land

Both

Non-Forest (Other than Grazing Land)

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

Total investment involved (in Crores):

27570

Type of investment:

Investment Expected

Year of Estimation

Page Number In Investment Document:

Has the Conflict Ended?

No

When did it end?

Why did the conflict end?

4
Additional Information

Government Departments Involved in the Conflict:

Tuticorin Port Trust

PSUs Involved in the Conflict:

V. O. Chidambaranar Port Trust

Did LCW Approach Government Authorities for Comments?

No

Name, Designation and Comment of the Government Authorities Approached

Corporate Parties Involved in the Conflict:

Did LCW Approach Corporate Parties for Comments?

Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:

People's Movement Against Enayam International Container Transhipment Terminal

5
Information on the use of criminal law

What was the action taken by the police?

How many people did the police detain or arrest?

What is the current status of the detained/accused persons?

Did the person face any violence while in police custody?

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

If the accused was not produced before a magistrate within 24 hours, or not produced at all, what were the reasons?

Legislation under which the accused was charged

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Legal Supporting Documents

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Author
Reported by
Sumana
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Fact sheet

Demand/Contention of the Affected Community

Opposition against environmental degradation

Demand to retain/protect access to common land/resources

If any arrests took place, were the accused persons produced before a judge within 24 hours of the arrest?

Was the accused person informed of their right to legal representation? Did the accused person have access to legal aid?

In cases where the accused person approached the court for bail, was bail granted?

Why was bail granted or rejected? If granted, what were the bail conditions and quantum of bail?

Were there any other notable irregularities that took place, or other significant details?

Status of Project

Original Project Deadline

Whether the Project has been Delayed

Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users

Whether the project was stalled due to land conflict

Source/Reference

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Exclusive monthly policy briefs, stories from the ground, Quarterly Analytics report, Curated Expert talks, merchandise and much more.


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