Following the plan of the anti-Koodankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) protesters to lay siege to the VOC Port on Saturday, the district administration is taking all necessary steps to face the situation.
According to fishermen associations here, fishermen in country boats, mechanised vessels and catamarans would lay siege to the Thoothukudi harbour on Saturday.
Consequently, a meeting to discuss the safety and security arrangements at the VOC Port was held here on Thursday, presided by District Collector Ashish Kumar, attended by stakeholders, officials of VOC Port Trust, Indian Coast Guard and Central Industrial Security Force (CISF).
Ashish Kumar, speaking to ‘Express’, said, “we believe the protesters will stage their agitation in a peaceful manner. However, the CISF which takes care of the port’s security, the Coast Guard deployed on the entire coast and the sea and the Marine Police have been put on high alert to face any situation that might arise.”
According to him, adequate police force will be deployed outside the port area also. Vasan urges agitators to refrain from protests
Union Shipping Minister G K Vasan on Friday urged anti-nuclear protesters to refrain from taking up protests to stop the ship movement in VOC port of Thoothukudi on Saturday.
The minister’s appeal to the protestors comes in the wake of anti-nuclear activists and fishermen calling for blockade of the Tuticorin port by using boats.
“It is unfortunate that protestors don’t understand that this type of protest would affect the export import trade of the region,” the Minister said. The port contributes highly to the development of economy as it provides jobs to millions of people.
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