Premachandran calls for Right to Sea Act to protect coastal livelihoods
He says such legislation is urgently needed as coastal communities face unprecedented threats to their lives and livelihoods
N.K. Premachandran, a Member of Parliament, has called for the establishment of a comprehensive Right to Sea Act, modeled after the Forest Rights Act. In a recent address at the commencement of a workshop focused on the Blue Economy and Coastal Risk in Kerala, Premachandran highlighted the critical need for such legislation to safeguard the lives and livelihoods of coastal communities.
The workshop, organized by the Inter University Centre for Social Science Research and Extension (IUCSSRE), aimed to shed light on the mounting challenges faced by these communities. Premachandran urged the State government to remain vigilant about the blue economy initiatives under Mission Samudra and expressed concerns about the potential harm caused by deep-sea mining projects proposed by the Central government.
Eugine H. Pereira, the Vicar General of the Latin Archdiocese of Trivandrum, cautioned that the blue economy agenda could serve as a facade for the exploitation of ocean resources, at the expense of local communities. The Vizhinjam port project, he said, had already become a significant burden for the local population. Other speakers included A.J.
Vijayan, K.V. Thomas, and Charles George, who discussed the various aspects of the issue. The workshop was chaired by Rajesh Komath, member of the MG University Syndicate, and Joseph Antony, with K.M. Seethi delivering the welcome address.
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