THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister Ahamed Devarkovil on Monday said that the Vizhinjam International Port project will be commissioned by next November. He said that the state government was doing everything in its power to expedite the project. He added that the Vizhijam International Seaport Limited (VISL) has been directed to set a deadline for the completion of the construction work.

"The construction of the port was delayed due to the failure of the construction company to supply the rock required for the construction of the Pulimuttu. The rock was to be delivered by the contracting company. Arrangements have been made to deliver the rock after holding ministerial discussions with Tamil Nadu. So far, 13 lakh tonnes of rock has been delivered. Company representatives informed the government that the Ockhi and Covid lockdowns had hampered the construction of the port. There is a committee chaired by the RDO and an appeal committee chaired by the Collector for the rehabilitation of fishermen. So far, Rs 100 crore has been spent on rehabilitation," the minister said.

However, the opposition took on the government over the delay in implementation of the Vizhinjam port project and alleged that the state government was trivialising the violation of agreement by the Adani Group.

''The Oommen Chandy government fought legal battles to get various permissions and consents for the project. The agreement said that the project, which started in 2015, would be completed by December 3, 2019. However, the Adani group has informed the government that the project can be completed only by 2023,'' Satheesan said, before the opposition staged a walk from the Assembly over the issue.

He said the state government has not yet levied the fine of Rs 12 lakh per day from the Adani group for the violation of the agreement. ''The minister, who is of the opinion that the four-year-long delay was due to rains and COVID-19, is actually trivialising the violation of agreement,'' he said.

Satheesan said it was evident that only one-fifth of the construction has been completed till now. ''Is this how mega projects are handled in the state? The government has left the whole construction process to the hands of Adani group. If this is the pace, then the construction will not be completed even after ten years,'' Satheesan said.