Over the multi-crore proposal Vizhinjam international seaport project in Kerala, a battle of petitions is going on right before the Unin Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF) expert panel. While some petitions are advocating for the project, some are pleading against the same project.
The petitions urge panel to take up the environmental clearance request for the Vizhinjam international seaport project early next week. Weeks after the public hearing on the project was held and the govt submitted a hefty 4000-page, 8 kg application and allied documents seeking environment clearance for the Vizhinjam project, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) of the MoEF is literally being ‘bombarded’ with more representations, for and against the ambitious multi-crore proposal.
As one setion of hoteliers and resort owners camping in New Delhi to ‘lobby’ against the port project, the Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Confederation of Kerala Tourism Industries (CKTI), which support the proposal, shot off letters to the MoEF on October 24 as a counter measure.
Another organisation – Change.org – e-mailed a similar petition signed by 2,052 people, urging the MoEF to wave the green flag. During a three-day sitting next week, the Vizhinjam project is slated to be considered on October 29, according to top officials of the government port company Vizhinjam International Seaport (VISL).
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