Assuring all support to the coastal community and traditional industries including fisheries and cashew, fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma said that only 7.8 per cent area along the 590 km coastline in Kerala is free from disaster vulnerabilities. “The coastal area should be protected from inundation, exploitation and dumping of plastic waste. Otherwise, it will affect the livelihood of coastal community, mostly the fishermen,” said the minister while interacting with a panel of experts at the ‘Minister on a Mission programme’ organized by the Times of India on Thursday. In reply to a query by Latin Catholic Church priest Fr James Culas that Vizhinjam port works pose a threat to the livelihood of the fishermen community in the area and that it’s not a financially viable project for the state, Mercykutty Amma said the project has already been approved by the centre and the state governments. “As the work at Vizhinjam port has begun, its repercussions are felt at Sankhumugham as the sea is encroaching upon the land and the beach is eroding. Efforts should be on to protect the coastline, while ensuring proper rehabilitation of the coastal community,” said the minster. The minister called for sustainable development with integrated coastal management plan without violating Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) norms. “To rehabilitate the coastal community at Vizhinjam, the government had set aside Rs 450 crore package which covers their livelihood and employment options. There is no dearth of funds, but it needs reach the deserving based on a costal impact study,” she said. She also called for proper sewage waste management to check dumping of waste mostly plastics and discharge of sewage water from hotels and hospitals into water bodies such as the Ashtamudi lake. Mercykutty Amma also said that ‘pair trawling’, carried out by means of a trawl dragged between two boats, mostly by foreign vessels will not be permitted as it declines the fish resources and affects the livelihood of traditional fishermen. Similarly, trawling with China nets, Kuttivala and Ettamkettal mesh nets affects fish resources and it will be checked. She welcomed the suggestion of Kerala Chamber of Commerce and Industry director board member, J Rajmohan Pillai, in developing organic brand cashew in Kerala and to promote cashew apple rich in Vitamin C.
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