State Government Sanctions ₹17 Crore for Chaliyam Fish Landing Centre

Construction of the Chaliyam fish landing centre in Kozhikode district will begin only after the project land is transferred from the Forest department and the required clearances are obtained, Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor informed the Assembly.

The State government has accorded administrative sanction for ₹17 crore for the comprehensive development of the centre. The Minister was replying to a submission by P.A. Mohammed Riyas, MLA.

Facilities planned at the centre

The project envisages an auction hall, a net-mending shed, a parking area, a canteen, toilets and shops. The land identified for the project currently belongs to the Forest department.

The Fisheries department has submitted a fresh application for Stage I clearance through the PARIVESH portal. An earlier approval was cancelled owing to technical issues, prompting the department to submit the new application.

Land identified in Chembanode village in Kozhikode district will be provided for compensatory afforestation, the Minister said.

The administrative sanction provides the basis for taking the project forward, but it does not allow construction to start immediately because the land transfer and statutory clearances are still pending.

Land transfer and clearances remain pending

The proposed site falls within the Coastal Regulation Zone, and the project therefore requires CRZ clearance before construction can begin. The land required for the project must also be transferred from the Forest department.

The Kozhikode District Collector has proposed forming a local committee to oversee the removal of temporary structures at the project site. The committee would comprise the area MLA and representatives of fishermen’s organisations.

After the land is transferred and the required clearances are obtained, the department will proceed with technical sanction and tendering, the Minister said. This sequence places the project’s next steps on land transfer, clearance procedures, technical approval and the tendering process.

Source: The Hindu