22 July 2014

Shipbreaking move invites fisherfolk’s ire in Kozhikode:

The government planned to support the lobbies behind the vessel dismantling projects in Beypore as they had been forced to leave from their earlier unit at Azhikkal in Kannur.

A joint action council of various fishermen’s organisations and environmental forums has threatened to launch an indefinite agitation in protest against the alleged move by the Kerala government to give the “go ahead” for ship-breaking works at Beypore.

Leaders of the action council said in Kozhikode on Monday that the government planned to support the lobbies behind the vessel dismantling projects in Beypore as they had been forced to leave from their earlier unit at Azhikkal in Kannur district.

Threat to health

They alleged that Steel Industries Kerala Ltd. and some of the big industrialists in the sector were emerging as promoters of the business, which posed strong threat to the environment and the health of people.

Rajesh Warier, one of the leaders of the action council formed against the ship-breaking works, said various environmental and social organisations would team up in Kozhikode to launch a mass people’s agitation on August 24.

He also affirmed that the support of people in the literary and cultural spheres of Kozhikode would be sought to mobilise public opinion for the cause.

“We would never be able to support this highly polluting and destructive ship-breaking works here as it fetches its benefits to only an affluent minority,” he added.

Source: the hindu. 22 July 2014

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