India (Commonwealth Union)_ Vice Admiral M. A. Hampiholi, head of the Southern Naval Command (SNC), said on Wednesday that the Vizhinjam seaport, which is being built in Thiruvananthapuram, will compete with major container ports in Dubai and Colombo and bring in a lot of money for the nation despite the violent protests against it. In a media briefing on board the INS Tir at the naval base, the Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the SNC stated that the Vizhinjam port is something that will produce income for the nation as a component of the blue economy. He argued that the fishermen have a right to compensation for the loss of their means of subsistence and expressed hope that the governments would act responsibly.
“The port in Vizhinjam will compete with the cargo ports in Dubai and Colombo and bring in a lot of money for us. I know that is the goal. Additionally, the fishermen are entitled to compensation for the loss of their livelihood, and I believe the case is currently in litigation,” explained the naval commander.
“Of course, the government would adopt a reasonable stance. From the standpoint of the nation, it is something that would bring in money as a part of the blue economy and under the general umbrella of making the nation wealthy,”stated Naval Command (SNC) chief Vice Admiral M A Hampiholi.
Vizhinjam and other coastal communities’ fishermen have been demonstrating against the under-construction seaport for more than four months, and on November 26 and 27 there was violence as a result.
The Navy has always anticipated the need for three aircraft carriers, according to Hampiholi, two months after a new aircraft carrier was added to India’s naval force. In response to a question on it, the Vice Admiral stated that Cochin Shipyard has demonstrated its capacity to build the nation’s first indigenous aircraft carrier.
