Latest news with #CoastalPeaceandDevelopment
Hans India
11-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Fishermen associations meet in Kanyakumari today to oppose hydrocarbon project
Chennai: Fisherfolk associations in Tamil Nadu's Kanyakumari district are stepping up their protest against the Centre's proposed hydrocarbon exploration project in the Kanyakumari sea. A crucial meeting is being held on Sunday in Kanyakumari, where fishermen federations, coastal village representatives, and leaders from neighbouring Kerala are expected to finalise their stance and future course of action. A. Dunston, Director of the Coastal Peace and Development (CPD), said the meeting will involve several stakeholders and will focus on mobilising collective opposition to the project. 'We are uniting federations and associations from across the region to send a clear message that this project threatens our lives and livelihood,' he said. The proposed hydrocarbon project stems from the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas's (MOPNG) 2023 Notice Inviting Offers under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP). The offer pertains to oil and gas exploration in three offshore blocks south of Cape Comorin, spanning nearly 27,154.80 square kilometres. Environmental activists and local leaders warn that the project will have devastating consequences, particularly for the Wadge Bank, a biologically rich and ecologically sensitive marine zone located near Cape Comorin. S.P. Udayakumar, coordinator of Pachai Tamizhagam, cautioned that any disturbance in the Wadge Bank would impact the marine biodiversity and irreversibly damage the traditional fishing economy. 'This is not just about fishers in Kanyakumari. The ecological damage will affect communities across Tamil Nadu and Kerala,' he said. C. Berlin, district secretary of Neithal Makkal Iyakkam, echoed similar concerns, stating that the plan would turn the sea into a 'marine desert.' He called for the immediate withdrawal of the project to protect the ocean ecosystem. Captain C. Johnson, secretary of the Colachel Mechanised Fishers Welfare Association, said fishers will be denied access to crucial fishing zones if the project moves ahead. 'This is a direct threat to our survival,' he added. The community has vowed to continue its agitation until the project is scrapped.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Kanniyakumari fisherfolk to hold meeting against hydrocarbon exploration proposal
KANNIYAKUMARI: Fisherfolk in the Kanniyakumari district are planning to intensify their opposition against the central government's proposed hydrocarbon project at the Kanniyakumari sea. Fisherfolk functionaries said they are also speaking with other associations from Tamil Nadu and Kerala. A Dunston, Director of Coastal Peace and Development (CPD) said, 'We will conduct a meeting on Sunday with fishermen federations, associations and representatives from coastal villages in Kanniyakumari to take a decision to oppose the project.' Pachai Tamizhagam coordinator SP Udayakumar said that the Indian Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (MOPNG), in 2023, invited Notice Inviting Offers under the Hydrocarbon Exploration and Licensing Policy (HELP) for the exploration of oil and natural gas in three blocks south of Cape Comorin covering an area of around 27,154.80 sq km. If the project is implemented, it could spell disaster for the Wadge Bank, which is situated right in the middle of Cape Comorin. Wadge Bank is an invaluable treasure trove for the fisherfolks and the larger communities of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, Udayakumar added. Neithal Makkal Iyakkam's district secretary and writer Kurumpanai C Berlin said, 'The proposed plan to extract hydrocarbon from Wadge Bank would affect the sea, turning it into a desert. The project would affect the livelihood of fishers from Kanniyakumari and districts in Tamil Nadu and Kerala.' Colachel based mechanised fishers welfare association secretary and ship captain C Johnson said that after the hydrocarbon project will be implemented at the Wadge Bank area in the Kanniyakumari sea, the fishers in the district would be barred from entering the area for fishing.
