Chandy meets Latin Church representatives over Vizhinjam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Oommen Chandy on Saturday held discussions with representatives of the Latin Catholic Church in an effort to assuage their apprehensions over the Vizhinjam project.

The meeting was held at the Chief Minister's residence here.

A Church spokesperson later said that Chandy had given them a patient hearing and they were expecting a 'favourable' response from the government.

The Latin Church had stated that nearly 50,000 fishermen would have to be rehabilitated due to the project and would lose their livelihood once it becomes a reality.

The church wants the government to address the concerns of the fishermen community and has also threatened to launch an indefinite agitation from Aug 17, when the government will be signing a MoU with Adani Vizhinam Ports Ltd, the SPV floated by Adani Ports and Special Economic Zone Ltd.

The fishermen have demanded a better rehabilitation package for those getting affected by the deep water seaport and have demanded that government should not go ahead with the project without addressing their issues.

Yesterday Chief Secretary Jiji Thomson had met Archbishop Soosa Pakiyam along with CEO of AVPL, Santosh Kumar Mahopatra.

No comments: