The Maritime Council (Amendment) Bill passed the Assembly amid opposition

Opposing the bill, Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan said it dealt a blow to the constitutionally guaranteed right to life and livelihood of coastal people | Photo credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The Assembly on Wednesday passed the Kerala Maritime Board Bill, 2026, despite the exit of the opposition Left Democratic Front. The draft law, which envisages the restoration of the board of directors in order to create a centralized decision-making mechanism and increase operational efficiency, was submitted to the substantive committee.

Leader of Opposition Pinarayi Vijayan opposed the bill, saying it dealt a blow to the constitutionally guaranteed right to life and livelihood of coastal people. A provision to establish a State Maritime Land Bank, comprising land under state government control, for township development and other projects would result in their eviction from land where they parked boats, dried nets and repaired vessels. Ports and landing centers would give way to commercial interests and deny traditional fishermen a natural access to the sea.

Charging ‘waterfront fees’ for the use of the waters where he fished was inhumane. Giving greater powers to officials on board in the name of inspections would pave the way for exploitation and an atmosphere of fear in coastal areas. Mr. Vijayan argued that constructions along the coast and private tourism projects in violation of coastal protection laws will destroy the marine ecosystem.

In addition, the new body would have no representatives of fishermen, coastal residents, their organisations, local bodies or revenue or fisheries ministers and departmental secretaries. The bill will hand over the state’s coastline to the corporate mafia, Mr Vijayan said before walking out in protest.

The CM rejects the opposition’s allegations

Both the revenue minister and the fisheries secretary will be part of the board, Mr. Satheesan said in his reply, alleging that the LDF had staged a strike over a bill it had not even studied. He also refuted the opposition’s claim that all land under the control of the state government would be transferred to the board. The bill specified that the land within the harbor limits would fall below the land bank. The opposition did not even propose a change to this provision. In addition, development would take place on land within the port limits. How could this be interpreted as a result of the transfer of land to legal entities, he asked.

The biggest gain would come from port development and non-port development. Development outside the port would create jobs and more investment in the maritime industry, logistics, transshipment, supply chains and the like, he said. The board was a statutory body of the government, Mr. Satheesan pointed out. There was no truth in the claims that the fishermen’s right to movement would be denied.

On the use of the term concessionaire in the bill, he said all ports have concessionaires. Adani group was the concessionaire in Vizhinjam. During the inauguration of the project, the then Ports Minister identified the Adani Group as the government’s partner, as claimed by Mr. Satheesan.

Introducing the bill a few days ago, Mr. Satheesan said the bill will empower the Kerala Maritime Board in line with the times as the existing legislation lacks the necessary statutory provisions to enable it to carry out the various tasks entrusted to it.

Published – 29 Oct 2026 0:31 AM IST