Planning Interventions for the Coastal Region Near Kollam Port
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ISSN (Online) 2456 -1304 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 Planning interventions for the coastal region near Kollam port [1] Deepu Bharadan, [2] Harsha Hashir [1] M Urban planning student (TKMCE, Kollam) [2] Professor (TKMCE, Kollam) Abstract: - Kollam is an ancient port city which has a heritage lineage of more than 2000 years. The port loses its significance in the modern era due to many political and technological reasons. Now several major modernization projects have been proposed for Kollam port in order to transform it into the "port city of Kerala" by the Government of Kerala. Development of trade, transportation and tourism associated with the Kollam port will enforce a transformation of the coastal region near the port and the port-city relationship. The paper focuses on the study and analysis of parameters adopted for the renewal of coastal regions associated with ports through literature studies and its adaptability in the study area. The study envisions suggesting strategies for the sustainable development of the coastal region near Kollam port. Key words— Port-city relationships, Sustainable development, Development goals, Urban renewal, Community participation I. INTRODUCTION sillimanite, titanium dioxide, blood products, newsprint and waste paper, cement, urea and muriate of potash for fertilizer, City of Kollam or Quilon is a Port city in South India and packed food, rubber, agricultural products and cement as well was the commercial capital of erstwhile Kingdom of as other commodities and products for local companies such Travancore. It is situated on the Laccadive Sea coast of South as Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre in Trivandrum and Kerala Kerala. The city is known as the "Gateway to the backwaters Minerals and Metals. of Kerala” [1]. The city lies on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake, The entire hinterland for Kollam port has been divided into Kerala's second largest lake, on the Arabian Sea coast. Major two major cargo belts. The primary hinterland has been parts of Kollam city are covered by Ashtamudi Lake. treated as the districts of Kerala adjoining to the Thankassery Kollam Port is one of the historic ports situated 4 port and the secondary hinterland as the border districts of kilometers (2.5 mi) away from Downtown Kollam (formerly Tamil Nadu [2]. Primary hinterlands: Kollam, Quilon).It is the second largest port in Kerala by volume of Pathanamthitta, parts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Idukki cargo handled and facilities. Located on the south-west coast districts. of India, under the name of Quilon Port it became one of the Secondary hinterlands: Kanyakumari, Theni, Madurai, country's most important trade hubs from the first to the Virudunagar, Thirunnelveli [2]. seventeenth centuries. Kollam was considered one of the four early ports in the global sea trade around the 10-13th century, II. CONTEXT along with Alexandria and Cairo in Egypt, the Chinese city The government of Kerala proposed several projects to the of Quanzhou, and Malacca in the Malaysian archipelago. coastal region along with the developments of Kollam port. The wharf at Kollam Port is 177 meters (581 ft.) in length Some are: and 12 meters (39 ft.) wide with an available draught of 6.5 1. Co-operation with Tuicorin port-raw cashews will meters (21 ft.), whereby vessels up to 15,000 DWT can berth arrive at Tuticorin Port and then be trans-shipped to Kollam directly. The wharf is protected from the waves by a 2,100 Port through small container ships. meters (6,900 ft.) seaboard breakwater and a 500 meters 2. New passenger terminal and cargo terminal: Kollam (1,600 ft.) leeward breakwater. The length of the wharf will city is very close to Minicoy compared to Kochi (Aiming be increased to 200 meters (660 ft.) in due course. In 2007, passenger service from Lakshadweep).Opening of National Kollam Port handled about 500,000 tons of cargo. Waterway-3 connecting Kollam city will invite more Commodities currently planned for the port to export and passengers to Kollam. imports include marble, tiles, sand, titanium ore, cashew nuts, 3. Kerala coastal highway project-The coastal highway kernels and nut shell liquid, seafood, clay, timber logs, passes through nine districts of the state, connecting the All Rights Reserved © 2020 IJSEM 93 ISSN (Online) 2456 -1304 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 major ports of Vallarpadom, Kollam, and Vizhinjam in history of trading. The Portuguese, Chinese were engaged in Kerala along with several minor ports. trade at Kollam. The district has a geographical area of about 4. Developing seafood industry- enhances marine 2500 sq.km. The comparative narrow continental shelf fisheries; which force more seafood export. sprawls over an area of 3500 sq.km. Kollam has a rich These projects will lead to a transformation in the coastal fisheries heritage sanctified with37 km coastline and area which already occupied with different organically grown Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) extends unto 200 nautical settlements (fishermen, fish landings etc.) along with some miles far beyond the continental shelf. In which Kollam preservation of historical contents. corporation occupies 17.2 km coastline from To face lift the coastal region around Kollam port need an Shakthikulangara to Mayyanad .The total geographical area inclusive approach which should lead to a sustainable green of Kollam corporation is 57 sq.km.Kollam Corporation is port area which should consider the socio economic aspects ardently rich with marine, brackish water, fresh water of the local community and their needs. resources. These water bodies inhabit a wide variety of flora and fauna. Coastal area consist of 2 fishing harbors, 10 III. CURRENT STATUS/ACTIVITIES fishing villages and 11 fish landings .About 6000 working fishermen engaged in fishing sectors from this 10 fishing A significant amount of traditional fishermen settlements villages. Kollam is the highest fish producing district of are near the port which improves marine fisheries but delays Kerala. port development. There are commercial establishment along With th gifted marine wealth, the sector is an evergreen the Altharamood -port road as well as Kochupilammood to sector in Kollam A problem that the sector faces is the beach rod which connects port to NH and as well as unavailability of an exporting port Most of the exports from downtown Kollam. The development of Kollam port will Kollam happen through Cochin port or Tuticorin port Even enhance the development of commercial core of Kollam though, the sector has challenges, the sector is growing at a Municipal Corporation. The coastal region near Kollam port pretty good rate Marine Processing industries are also being area had engaged with fishing activities. There is a total of 12 established throughout Coastal areas of Kollam [3]. markets are working near the port. To the south-west 200000 Thankasseri light house and Old Dutch fort is present as 150000 heritage content. There is an industrial estate near to the 100000 Kollam port known as H&C in a distance of 1.5km A couple of small industrial units working in Altharammodu and 50000 Kottamukku region. 0 Figure 2.Fish production (Kollam Corporation) 2012- 2017 B. Other Industries: Kollam as a district has historically been an area of industrial importance for Kerala. The district had major industrial units like ALIND, Quilon Ceramics, United Electrical Industries Limited(UNILEC) (popularly known as the Meter Company), Parvathy Mills Limited, Industrial Estates in Kollam City etc. But, most of these old public sector industries have been closed. The district has Figure 1.Activities near Kollam port shown great export potential through marine fisheries sector The fishing villages Vady, Thankassery, Port Kollam, and cashew industries. Pallithottam and Moothakkara were 43% of total fishermen Last decade there were more than 600 cashew processing of Kollam Municipal Corporation are close to the Kollam units in the city. Almost 800,000 tons of raw cashews are port. imported to the city for processing every year. Most of The major economic sectors allied to the port are: India’s export quality cashew kernels are prepared in Kollam. A. Marine Fisheries: The ancient harbor town Kollam, the Hence it’s called the cashew capital of the World. Now The once capital of Venad, has been in prominence in the Indian Cashew sector is also showing weakness. Even though the All Rights Reserved © 2020 IJSEM 94 ISSN (Online) 2456 -1304 International Journal of Science, Engineering and Management (IJSEM) Vol 5, Issue 4, April 2020 major sectors in Kollam is showing weakness, Kollam is Ammachiveedu junction the width is about 12 meters and it showing good growth prospects in small scale industrial is also straight. There are lots of residential buildings on both sector [4]. sides of this road. The level difference between the said Two important agencies are working at Kollam city for the Ammachiveedu junction and the wharf is 4.5 meters [2]. export promotion and growth of cashew business of the city. 2. From Port gate to Beach and then to Trivandrum - 1. Cashew Export Promotion Council of India The second road starts from the port via Kochupilamood (CEPCI) junction ends near Kollam Beach. This is nearly 1,935 meters 2. Kerala State Cashew Development Corporation long and the road continues from there via Varkala along the Limited (KSCDC). coast to Thiruvananthapuram. The said coastal road is now CEPCI is serves as an intermediary between importers of under construction. The width of this road from the cashew kernels and exporters who are members of the beginning up to 200 meters is 5 meters and there is a school, council. CEPCI is expecting a rise in export to 275,000 tons church and other residential building on both sides. The by 2020.