Port Authority Provides Free Sand to Fortify Evictees' Plots

Families displaced for the Vallarpadam rail and road project finally received relief as the Cochin Port Authority agreed to give free dredged sand. The authority will release 52,958.70 cubic metres of sand stocked at Puthuvypeen to strengthen three rehabilitation sites.

Details And Requirements

The port authority sent a letter to the Executive Engineer of the Public Works Department. It asked for details about the contractor, work order, vehicle registration numbers, and the authorized representative at the sand yard. The agency must also show a transit pass from the Geologist before moving any sand.

Locations And Pending Demands

The sand will strengthen sites at Mulavukad for 14 families, plus Adarsh Nagar and Indira Nagar in Thuthiyoor near Kakkanad for 56 and 118 families respectively. Francis Kalathungal, general convenor of the Moolamppilly Coordination Committee, noted that families had demanded this for a long time. A total of 316 families lost their homes across seven villages in 2008. Evictees also want jobs for one person per family, as a 2008 government order promised, but the port authority has not agreed to this yet.

Government Action

Minister Rojy M. John stated that the State government will soon call a meeting of all stakeholders to solve these issues after studying the matter. Meanwhile, the Public Works Department asked the district administration to deposit ₹2.68 crore to cover the transport and fortification costs. The district administration also approved ₹19.50 lakh for a protection wall for plots given to four families near a water body.

Context

Large infrastructure projects often require displacing local residents, leading to long-standing legal and rehabilitation demands. Rehabilitation packages typically involve land allotment and infrastructure development, though employment promises can take years to resolve between state authorities and central port bodies.