Kozhikode Government Approves ₹17 Crore Upgrade of Chaliyam Fishing Hub

The Kerala state government has approved a ₹17 crore plan to develop the Chaliyam fish landing centre in Kozhikode district. Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor announced the administrative sanction in the Assembly, responding to a request from MLA P.A. Mohammed Riyas. The project will feature an auction hall, a net‑mending shed, parking space, a canteen, toilets and shops. Work will start only after the land, currently owned by the Forest Department, is transferred and all clearances are secured. The Fisheries Department has filed a fresh Stage I clearance application through the PARIVESH portal after an earlier approval was cancelled for technical reasons. Compensatory afforestation will be provided on land identified in Chembanode village. The Kozhikode District Collector has suggested forming a local committee of the area MLA and fishermen‑organisation representatives to oversee removal of temporary structures at the site. Because the site lies within a Coastal Regulation Zone, a CRZ clearance is also required. Once the land transfer and clearances are completed, the department will move to technical sanction and tendering. The allocation is part of a broader state effort to upgrade coastal facilities and boost fish exports. ## Context The development aims to modernise fishing infrastructure and improve livelihoods for local fishermen, a common focus of Kerala’s coastal development plans.