Kerala's under-construction Vizhinjam port on Monday witnessed an unprecedented mode of agitation with protesting fisherfolk surrounding the strategically important site from the sea on boats, even as others on land entered its premises by breaking open its huge gates.

The black flag protest in Kerala's Thiruvananthapuram, headed by the Latin Catholic Church, against the Adani-led Vizhinjam seaport brings to light the long-drawn conflict. In Aug 2015, the then Oommen Chandy government and Adani Vizhinjam Port Ltd (AVPL) signed an agreement for the International Multipurpose Deepwater Seaport project. The port is part of the SagarMala Programme - a GoI initiative to enhance India's logistics sector.

The idea of a modern port in Vizhinjam isn't new. An international port was conceived as early as 1991. Vizhinjam has historically been a significant trading hub since Roman times. The location is economically and geopolitically vital as a key connecting point.

On Monday, the fisherfolk not only blocked the port from the sea but on land too. Many climbed over the gates and broke the locks from the inside, letting through the horde of protestors waiting outside.

Visuals aired on TV showed how the police, who had been deployed there since morning in huge numbers, stood helplessly as the protestors climbed over the gates and broke the locks.

The protestors were then seen jubilantly dancing around after breaking through the gates.

At the same time, hundreds of fishing boats were also seen surrounding the port from the sea.

One of the priests of the Latin Archdiocese, who are leading the protest, had a day ago said that while the state government said it would meet five of their demands, it was only an oral assurance, and they wanted it in writing.

The priest had also said that the construction of the port should be stopped and a study is carried out regarding its environmental impact and representatives of the fisherfolk, experts in such matters, also be consulted.

On Sunday, the Kerala Catholic Bishops Council (KCBC), a powerful church body, declared its full support to the coastal residents "who are fighting for their survival and the Thiruvananthapuram Latin Archdiocese which is leading their struggle".

Earlier, Black flags were hoisted in churches of the Latin Archdiocese in the state capital.

Latin Archdiocese archbishop Thomas J Netto said the sea is their mother and would not allow any construction activities that destroy its shores.

Significance of Vizhinjam Port

The deep-water, multipurpose, international seaport and container transshipment terminal at Vizhinjam is being constructed by Adani Vizhinjam Ports Pvt Ltd (AVPPL). It is expected to boost India's maritime ambitions significantly.

The port project was signed during the tenure of the Congress-led UDF government led by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy. The Adani Group and the Kerala government signed a Rs 7,525 crore deal, but the project hit several roadblocks and controversies.

The port is one of the deepest ports in India and was expected to carry 80% of the country's cargo shipments at an estimated cost of Rs. 7,525 crore. Given its natural depth and with no significant dredging, the project was expected to be completed quickly.

When construction began on December 5, 2015, group chief Gautam Adani claimed that the first ship would berth there on September 1, 2018, in less than 1,000 days. Initially, given an extension up to Dec 2019 and later to March 2023, its construction is currently on hold due to the protests.

Cyclone Okchi devastated the region in 2017, destroying a portion of the built breakwater. Since then, a further delay has been brought on by the lack of limestone, the project's most important raw material. In May 2021, Cyclone Tauktae washed away an upcoming portion of the breakwater again. Meanwhile, the reasons which delayed the project also severely affected the local fishing community.

"Villagers displaced by sea are living as refugees in the Valiyathura school for 5 years," says @rejitweets, author of Rowing Between the Rooftops. Cyclones destroyed livelihoods, eroded coastlines, and triggered adverse changes. These have led to the present conflict.

Back in Aug 2015, the Latin Church raised opposition to the seaport project saying it would impact the livelihood of over 50,000 fisherfolks. About 90% of the church followers are fisherfolks. Seven years later, they claim their worst fears have now become a reality.

“Even with 1/3rd of the construction itself, we started seeing widespread coastal erosion,” says archdiocese vicar general Eugene Pereira who is spearheading the protests. "Sea surges and coastal erosion increased after the port came up," says social activist @MinimohanM.

Locals blame the port. Because of dredging, sediment flow changed, they claim. @MinimohanM says that the government has accepted that 238 houses in the area have developed cracks. But the underlying cause for the protests goes beyond the port.

Unkept promises of rental alternatives, small resettlement houses that are too far from the sea, and political favoritism in aid distribution: local grouse has many dimensions. "Those who lost houses weren't living too badly until then," says @MinimohanM 

And it is here the Latin church has a role in heading the protest. "With a levy on the catch being given to the church by the faithful, passivity of the church was being questioned," alleges an activist. The protests got attention when Latin churches threatened to hoist black flags on Independence day. The Church is taking a more active stance, locals allege, after a recent change in leadership in the district.

These protests seem to be another façade by Church to stall the country's development.

Rakesh Krishnan Simha @ByRakeshSimha wrote, "Kerala Christians protest against the development of a deep water port in Vizhinjam. India has few deep ports so ships use Colombo. Who's leading these protests - the Christian clergy. China would have sent in tanks. But in India, church, and Left have blocked Vizhinjam for 40 yrs."

Abhishek @AbhishBanerj pointed out, "Beware! Church openly coordinating protests against Vizhinjam deep sea port in Kerala Remember how missionaries forced Sterlite Copper to shut down, took away jobs, and made India depend on Chinese imports? Same model repeating Churches should be banned from political activity."

Phase 1 of the project is now close to 80 percent complete.

Once complete, Vizhinjam will emerge as a significant competition to the transshipment ports of Colombo, Singapore, and Dubai as it is the only transshipment hub in the Indian subcontinent, closest to the international shipping routes, and is centrally located on the Indian coastline. It has a natural draft of 20-24 m and minimal littoral drift.

The port will also offer infrastructure to handle Megamax containerships. Its capacity in phase 1 is 1 million TEUs; in subsequent phases, another 6.2 million TEUs will be added.

Once completed, the Vizhinjam International Deepwater Multipurpose Seaport project will be one of India's deepest ports, with 80 percent of the country's cargo trans-shipments passing through here.

@nach1keta also has the same doubts and mentions in his tweet, "LatinCatholic church is all out against the Vizhinjam Port Construction by @Adaniports. Today church successfully stopped the work by resorting to violence. The reason for the agitation is never heard of in any other part of India. It'll be interesting to find what's being cooked!!"

PTI Inputs