(a) the progress made in the construction of Vizhinjam Fishing Harbour in Trivandrum District of Kerala;
(b) the details about phase of construction going on alongwith the land acquisition;
(c) the reasons for the inordinate delay in completing the project; and
(d) the time by which it is likely to be completed and comissioned?
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE (SHRI HUKUMDEO NARAYAN YADAV)
(a)&(b): Development of fishing harbour at Vizhinjam was envisaged in three stages. The proposal of Government of Kerala for development of Stage-I of the Vizhinjam fishing harbour was approved in January, 1968. After completion of the Stage-I, the proposals of the State Government for construction of Stage-II and III were approved by Government of India in February 4, 1987 under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme and an amount of Rs.690.50 lakhs towards 50% central share has been released to the State Government by March 1998. As per the report received from the State Government, the facilities namely, construction of breakwaters, wharfs, administrative office, gates, toilets, information centre have been completed in full. The other works such as Auction hall, roads, gear shed, fencing and compound wall etc. are at the advanced stages of completion. As regards to land acquisition the State Government has already acquired land measuring about 11 hectares and another about 2.1 hectares is yet to be acquired by the State Government for completion of the project.
(c)&(d): The main reasons attributed for inordinate delay of the project as reported by the State are
(i) delay in land acquisition,
(ii) Evacuation and rehabilitation of the families,
(iii) dispute in ownership of land
(iv) delay in resolving the issues pertaining to removal of Khabar situated in the harbour basin among the others. Since the State Government has not yet fully acquired required land for development of the fishery harbour and the issue pertaining to Khabar situated in the harbour basin is yet to be resolved, a firm date for completion of the project has not been furnished by the State Government, which is the executing agency for the project.