- विज्ञापन -
Thiruvananthapuram: All fishing activities in Kerala have come to a standstill following a 24-hour coastal shutdown organized by the Fisheries Coordination Committee in protest against the Central government’s decision to allow sea mining off the Kollam coast.
The committee, which includes members from key political groups in the state—including the ruling CPI(M)-led Left and the Congress-led UDF—demands that the Centre retract its approval for sand mining in three blocks covering a total area of 242 square kilometers.
The tendering process, initiated by the Union Ministry of Mines in November 2024, is set to announce the winning bidder by March 27.
As a result of the protest, all fishing operations have ceased since Wednesday midnight, affecting everyone from local fish vendors to market stalls. No fishing boats, whether small or large, have gone out to sea.
The protest, spearheaded by former Congress parliamentarian T.N. Prathapan and CPI(M) legislator P.P. Chitharanjan, has garnered widespread participation from the fishing community and other stakeholders. The Latin Church has also voiced its support for the protest.
Kerala’s fishing industry supports around 250,000 direct jobs, with an additional 1.5 million people indirectly reliant on it. The state boasts approximately 4,000 trawlers and over 25,000 fishing vessels.
The success of this shutdown is expected to energize the planned Parliament march on March 12.
Despite the alliance between traditional political rivals for this protest, a separate coastal rally initiated by Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan, organized by the Revolutionary Socialist Party—part of the Congress-led UDF—has commenced. Shibhu Baby John, the former state minister and state secretary of the RSP, criticized Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, alleging that the Left government is playing a double game. “Outwardly, they oppose sea sand mining, yet the Centre is moving forward with this initiative, seemingly with silent support from the Vijayan government,” stated John.
