PROTESTING fisherman and environmentalists have blocked attempts by the Adani Group to restart work on a US$900 million transshipment Port of Kochi in south India, reports Reuters.
'We won't let them in,' a protestor screamed at police officers near the port entrance.
The government plans to increase the draft to accommodate huge ships from its current depth of 14.5 metres, reports Mathrubhumi, a newspaper based in, Kozhikode, Kerala, 180 kilometres farther north on the coast.
The protesters, mostly Christian and led by Catholic priests, erected a large shelter blocking port access saying the development had caused coastal erosion and deprived fishermen of their livelihoods.
Some 25 trucks had tried to enter the port and were forced to turn back after two were hit by stones thrown by the protesters.
Construction at Adani's Vizhinjam seaport in Kerala state on the southern tip of India has been halted for more than three months.
Dozens of police in riot gear deployed outside the port, arguing with protesters. A group of protesting women lay down on the road leading to the port.
Adani Group said the project is in full compliance with all laws and that many studies in recent years have rejected allegations linking the project to shoreline erosion. The Kerala state government says erosion has occurred due to natural disasters.
The Adani Group says they are in full compliance with all laws. and that many studies in recent years have rejected allegations linking the project to shoreline erosion. The Kerala state government says erosion has occurred due to natural disasters.
The protest is a setback for Adani, who runs a $23 billion ports and logistics business and has touted the seaport's 'unmatched location' on a key global shipping route.
The port is considered well-positioned to win business from ports in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Dubai as it is close to the main Asia-Europe trade lane.
In recent months, the Adani Group has repeatedly sought relief from the Kerala state court, which has said the entry and exit of the port must not be blocked, but protesters have refused to relent.
'We won't remove the protest shelter no matter what. This is a matter of our lives,' said fisherman Joseph Johnson.
The 1,200-square foot structure, with a corrugated iron roof and banners proclaiming 'indefinite day and night protest', has blocked the entrance of the port since August. A previous attempt by Adani in October to move trucks out of the port also failed.
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'We won't let them in,' a protestor screamed at police officers near the port entrance.
The government plans to increase the draft to accommodate huge ships from its current depth of 14.5 metres, reports Mathrubhumi, a newspaper based in, Kozhikode, Kerala, 180 kilometres farther north on the coast.
The protesters, mostly Christian and led by Catholic priests, erected a large shelter blocking port access saying the development had caused coastal erosion and deprived fishermen of their livelihoods.
Some 25 trucks had tried to enter the port and were forced to turn back after two were hit by stones thrown by the protesters.
Construction at Adani's Vizhinjam seaport in Kerala state on the southern tip of India has been halted for more than three months.
Dozens of police in riot gear deployed outside the port, arguing with protesters. A group of protesting women lay down on the road leading to the port.
Adani Group said the project is in full compliance with all laws and that many studies in recent years have rejected allegations linking the project to shoreline erosion. The Kerala state government says erosion has occurred due to natural disasters.
The Adani Group says they are in full compliance with all laws. and that many studies in recent years have rejected allegations linking the project to shoreline erosion. The Kerala state government says erosion has occurred due to natural disasters.
The protest is a setback for Adani, who runs a $23 billion ports and logistics business and has touted the seaport's 'unmatched location' on a key global shipping route.
The port is considered well-positioned to win business from ports in Sri Lanka, Singapore and Dubai as it is close to the main Asia-Europe trade lane.
In recent months, the Adani Group has repeatedly sought relief from the Kerala state court, which has said the entry and exit of the port must not be blocked, but protesters have refused to relent.
'We won't remove the protest shelter no matter what. This is a matter of our lives,' said fisherman Joseph Johnson.
The 1,200-square foot structure, with a corrugated iron roof and banners proclaiming 'indefinite day and night protest', has blocked the entrance of the port since August. A previous attempt by Adani in October to move trucks out of the port also failed.
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