THE ISSUE OF A PORT AND THE FISHER-MEN/WOMEN : WHEN WE NEED THE BOTH

I have been reading and tracking this subject for quite some time as it comes in Press and Media from time to time. There are many publications regarding the Vizhinjam port under construction at the Coast Line of Kerala and the local protests on this subject appearing regularly.  I am trying to put a brief summary of the subject matter for digestion of all.

What I am observing and saying here is without bias, but this is an issue that needs to be resolved with the fundamental premises as:

1. A port such as Vizhinjam port at the Southern Coast of India is a need for Strategic Reasons for India. 

For all Cargo Movement (Containerized Sea Cargo) from and to India whether from European or Middle-East side ( from/to Western Direction of India ) or from and to South-East Asian Directions ( from/to Eastern Direction of India ), normally and mostly have a transhipment ( temporary rest and shifting to another Vessel ) of the Container Cargo at the Colombo Port of Sri Lanka. Colombo Port of Sri Lanka has been a Transhipment Hub for this purpose in the Indian Ocean for many years historically, because of its location in the Deep Water Indian Ocean, right close to the Extreme Southern Point of Land Geography of India. The Transhipment Arrangement through the Colombo Port of Sri Lanka has been going on for ages, as the locational advantage Colombo Port had and such Facility was also not available towards the extreme south of India where the Internationally Transiting Large Container Vessels will conveniently berth and drop/pick up the Containers to be trans-shipped to both east or west directions.

Over a period of time, the volume of Container Cargo from or to India have gone manifold over the years. The Colombo Port of Sri Lanka has lot of traffic jam, its cost of transhipment has gone up high and at the same time the Operational Control of the Colombo Port has gone to China as they were assigned with the Development of the Old Colombo Port which needed renovation and further development and that was agreed between China and Sri Lanka at National Level. Hence the Strategic Control of Colombo Port on long term basis is going to remain with China. Under such circumstances, India has a Strategic Need to have a Well Developed Port at its Extreme Southern Coast to precisely substitute and bye-pass the Colombo Port of Sri Lanka and delink the dependence of India on the Colombo Port of Sri Lanka. One of the Biggest Industrial Houses of India has been assigned to construct and manage this Port based on their long experience in managing the Port Business, I am not even naming them in this note of mine, not to create any perceived bias in the mind of the readers. India at National level needs this Port for Strategic Reasons and let it be presumed that whoever can construct it the best and manage it the best with experience, have been assigned.

2. The local Fisher-men/women communities in the area of Vizhinjam Port of Kerala have been up in the arms and protesting against the Construction of this Port. 

The plight of the local Fisher-men and women of this area where the said Port is being constructed, can not be also ignored. It has the issue of their livelihoods and survival and economic wellbeing which can not be ignored as well. It is obvious that the local fisher communities inhabitating the area are protesting to stop construction of this Port.  There has been also orders of the Hon'ble High Court of the State in favour of Construction of the Port with directions that it can not be stopped. It is also understood that the grievance of the Local Communities can  not be ignored and would need to be addressed and assuaged. The Grievance of the Local Fisher Communities relates to the conservation of the local Coast Line that would get disturbed by the Construction and Operation of the said port, that would affect their livelihoods, survical and economic wellbeing.

At National Level We Need the Both, we need the Vizhinjam Port and we need the Wellbeing of the Local Fisher Communities, both have to be addressed and resolved pragmatically by sealing the gaps:

When a project of this magnitude and ramifications is undertaken, the Safe Guards for its social and environmental impacts have to be put in place with prudence, that much I intend to say in this case. If the Safe Guard issues are addressed that may assuage the Grievance of the Local Communities and the things could be smooth and resolved.

As an educated citizen I just wrote this note having seen the publications that keep coming from time to time on this subject and felt somewhere and at the right places, the attention is deserved to resolve this subject. This is a bit complicated matter, this small note is not enough I am aware, however this is a concern worth noticing, but this issue definitely has solutions over the stalemate, when the attention is rightly captured at right places. 

About the Author : Dr. Nimain Charan Biswal is a B.Sc.(Agri. Science and Technology), M.B.A. and Ph.D.(Management Area ) by qualifications; and he has 36+ years of work experience in both industrial and development sectors in diversified fields of social importance. He has been educated at Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT)-Bhubaneswar, Institute of Rural Management Anand (IRMA) and Gujarat University (with Resource Support of IIM-Ahmedabad). He is further educated at IIM-Calcutta, XLRI-Jamshedpur, Apple Computer Industries and Spar Inc., USA. He has worked for reputed National and International Organizations in Senior/Top Management Capacities at Board level as well as Managing Director and CEO. He is a management expert covering extensive areas from management in industrial sectors, management in agriculture and dairy, development management to management of public systems. He is a prominent professional of India and known Internationally as well. He lives at Mumbai in India.