‘Sea erosion, loss of traditional livelihood’: Kerala fishermen up in arms against Adani Port project

'Sea erosion, loss of traditional livelihood': Fishermen up in arms against Adani Port project

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   For over a week, fisherfolk on the southern coast of Kerala have been protesting in front of the gates of the Adani Group’s Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram. In pic: Fishers and citizens using their fishing boats lay siege to Adani port during their protest against Adani Group's port development project at Vizhinjam, in Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (PTI Photo)

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   The protesters, mostly fishermen from nearby coastal villages, fear the Rs 7,500-crore deep-sea port project, that’s coming up at Vizhinjam in Thiruvananthapuram, will cause sea erosion and result in a potential loss of their traditional livelihood. In pic: Security personnel attempt to disperse fishermen and activists during a protest against Adani port project in Vizhinjam, in Thiruvananthapuram, Friday, Aug. 19, 2022. (PTI Photo)

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   As people take turns for the 24×7 sit-in, men in cassocks mingle with the protesters and the red-yellow-white flags of the Latin Catholic Church flutter from the tents. In pic: Fishermen and locals holding black flags stage a protest against Adani Groups' port development project at Vizhinjam, outside the main entrance of Adani Port in Thiruvananthapuram, Tuesday, Aug. 16, 2022. (PTI Photo)

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   With all major political parties in the state torn between their vote bank in the region and support for the port project, it’s the Latin Catholic Church that is backing the protesters. In pic: A protester tries to break the lock at the main entrance of Adani port using a rock, during a protest of fishers and citizens against Adani Group's port development project at Vizhinjam, in Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (PTI Photo)

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   The disenchantment of the fishermen towards mainstream political parties was evident when Congress leader V D Satheesan, who visited the protest site last week, was greeted with angry questions about the party’s stand on the project. In pic: Fishers and citizens lay siege to Adani port during their protest against Adani Group's port development project at Vizhinjam, in Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (PTI Photo)

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   The protests are expected to go on till August 31. In pic: A policeman interacts with fishers and citizens protesting against Adani Group's port development project at Vizhinjam, in Thiruvananthapuram, Monday, Aug. 22, 2022. (PTI Photo)