Thiruvananthapuram, Sep : A few prisets of Latin Archdiocese on Tuesday allegedly opposed the use of cranes to raise the net in which it is suspected that the bodies of missing fishermen of Muthalapozhi boad accident are entangled.Sources on condition of anonymity told UNE that a section of priests having control over the fishermen’s community took the shocking decision not to accept the offer of the crane from the Adani’s Vizhinjam International Seaport for the rescue operation.
It was pointed out that in case of allowing taking the crane out of the port project site,it would necessitate taking it out throgh the agitational venue.The effort of the district administration also did not materialise due to the non-cooperation of the agitating prieste.
Meanwhile , the search and rescue operations for the missing fishermen in the boat accident that happened on Monday at Muthalapozhi harbour continued today also,a defence press release said.The Coast Cuard Station Vizhinjam intimated that out of 10 missing fishermen S fishermen reached harbour safely 4 dead body recovered and S fishermen are still missing. Coast Guard Aircraft Dornier and Advance Light Helicopter from Coast Cuard Air Enclave Kochi launched with first light on Tuesday to augment SAR operation in coordination with Coast Guard ship Samar and C-441 already in area.
Coast Guard ship and aircraft are carrying out extensive search for 3 missing fishermen in adverse weather condition very rough sea with heavy rain and high swell at sea. Despite being adverse weather condition not conducive for flying operation one Advance Light Helicopter and one Dornier are continuously carrying out search operation for the missing fishermen in coordination with coast guard ship in area.
On September 1 the Kerala High Court directed to provide police protection to Adani’s Vizhinjam Enternational Seaport where Church-backed fishermen are staging protest and disrupting construction activities pressing several demands regarding various livelihood issues. Allowing the petition moved by Adani Vizhinjam Port Pvt Ltd, and its contracting company,Howe Engineering Construction,Justice Anu Sivaraman said the agitators have the right to protect,but they have no right to obstruct or cause damage to the project site.
Directing the Government to ensure that the lay and order situation is maintained at the con- struction site of the Port the court said free movements of construction Yorkers to the project site should not be obstructed. Earlier, Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan told the State Assembly that no one will lose their shelter and livelihood in Vizhinjam in connection with the construction activities of the Vizhinjam International Seaport.
Assuring that the government is committed to find solution to genuine problems faced by the people he said the government is ready for discussion with the agitating fishermen. Stating that Covernment has a clear vision about big projects implementing for the infrastructure development of the country he said the constitution of the seaport cannot be dropped due to agitation of a section of people. Meanwhile, fishermen backed by the priests of the Latin Archdiocese continued the agitation in front of the project site disrupting construction activities. Following the agitation led by Latin Catholic Church the construction activities of the Vizhinjam International Seaport were temporarily stopped by the Adani Croup. Earlier Church Vicar General Eugene Pereira said the agitation will continue till their demands including compensations and an impact study on the project are accepted by the State government.
