Over 3,000 people have been charged over an attack on a Vizhinjam police station after massive protests erupted against the construction of a new seaport by the multi-billion conglomerate Adani group.
The project is believed to be a threat to the local environment, with construction halted for four months, only to have begun again recently, leading to protests.
I used to live just a few kilometers from the fishing port of Vizhinjam and would quite often take a walk to it. The town is mostly a Muslim community. At night it was a nice sight to see all the boat lights out at sea.
Coastal erosion is a serious problem for the district.
Nearby Kovalam Beach created an artificial off-shore reef to reduce currents washing away the sand.
Neighbouring Samudra resort had lost its beach entirely when I lived there.
The opposition to the proposed port has been ongoing for well over a decade with disputes over the land grabs to provide a highway to Vizhinjam.
