Port Minister moots cargo service to Lakshadweep
The Hindu
Ro-ro service between Kollam and Azheekkal proposed
Visiting the Cochin Port on Tuesday, a first by a State Minister, Port Minister Ahamed Devarkovil said there’s a need for a barge service to Lakshadweep to transport goods like gas cylinders, and also a roll on-roll off (ro-ro) service between Kollam and Azheekkal ports. Ports would do well to have multimodal transport with the help of shipping transporting agencies. “Once Vizhinjam has become an international transshipment gateway, all ports in Kerala, including the Cochin Port, could connect with one another for cargo movement, and Kerala Maritime Board could coordinate this,” he said, urging the Cochin Port to recommend to the Union Shipping Ministry due support for the coastal shipping incentive scheme being implemented by the State government. Cochin Port Trust Chairperson M. Beena, Deputy Chairman Cyril George, Kerala Maritime Board Chairman T.P. Salim Kumar and steamers’ and customs brokers’ association representatives took part in the meeting.The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.