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 crore, 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 12 January 2018, fisherfolk around Kovalam village observed a fast to protest the construction of the port.
On 26 August 2020, LCW 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.
The[ proposed expansion](https://sagarmala.gov.in/sites/default/files/MIV 2030 Report.pdf) of Kanyakumari Port, part of India’s ambitious Maritime India Vision 2030 (MIV-2030) plan, has triggered opposition from local communities and environmentalists. The project, aimed at transforming the region into a significant shipping hub, involves expanding port infrastructure to accommodate larger vessels and increased cargo volumes. However, the expansion has raised alarms over potential displacement of fishing communities, coastal erosion, and damage to marine ecosystems.
As part of the MIV-2030 blueprint, the government seeks to enhance port infrastructure to reduce India’s dependency on foreign ports for transshipment—a critical process in global shipping where large cargo ships unload and transfer containers to smaller ships bound for regional destinations. Despite these efforts, a large proportion of India’s transshipped cargo continues to be handled by foreign ports, particularly in Sri Lanka, Singapore, and the Middle East. This reliance on external ports has been a key driver behind the push for new port developments, including Kanyakumari.
Local fishermen and environmental groups argue that the expansion caters more to international shipping needs than addressing local concerns. They fear that the project could lead to significant land loss and disruption of their livelihoods, which are deeply dependent on the coastal waters. There is also concern over the lack of adequate compensation and consultation with affected communities, who have been holding protests against the expansion.
The Kanyakumari Port expansion exemplifies the growing tensions between large-scale infrastructure development under national policies like MIV-2030 and the rights of coastal communities. As India strives to become a major player in global maritime trade, balancing industrial growth with sustainable development and local interests remains a critical challenge.
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
Common and Private
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?
Details of sources (names of accused, names and numbers of any lawyers, names of any police officers contacted)
Status of Project
Project underway despite protests
Original Project Deadline
2030
Whether the Project has been Delayed
No
Significance of Land to Land Owners/Users
Non-agri rural enterprise, Other Natural Resource extraction/dependence, Water bodies
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
2016
Has the Conflict Ended?
No
When did it end?
Why did the conflict end?
Categories of Legislations Involved in the Conflict
Central/State Government Policy, Environmental Laws
Legislations/Policies Involved
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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Suspendisse varius enim in eros elementum tristique. Duis cursus, mi quis viverra ornare, eros dolor interdum nulla, ut commodo diam libero vitae erat. Aenean faucibus nibh et justo cursus id rutrum lorem imperdiet. Nunc ut sem vitae risus tristique posuere.
Whether claims/objections were made as per procedure in the relevant statute
What was the claim(s)/objection(s) raised by the community?
What was the Decision of the Concerned Government Department?
Legal Processes and Loopholes Enabling the Conflict:
Violation of environmental laws
Legal Status:
Out of Court
Status of Case In Court
Whether any adjudicatory body was approached
Name of the adjudicatory body
Name(s) of the Court(s)
Case Number
Main Reasoning/Decision of court
Major Human Rights Violations Related to the Conflict:
Whether criminal law was used against protestors:
Reported Details of the Violation:
Date of Violation
Location of Violation
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?
No
Communities/Local Organisations in the Conflict:
People's Movement Against Enayam International Container Transhipment Terminal
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?
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