Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Government has introduced a new institutional framework to oversee rehabilitation, livelihood restoration, environmental management and social welfare obligations linked to the Phase II, III and IV development of the Vizhinjam International Deep Water Multipurpose Seaport.
Through G.O.(Rt) No.527/2026/F&P dated September 7, 2026, the Fisheries & Ports Department has replaced and subsumed the existing Livelihood Impact Appraisal Committee (LIAC) and its Appeal Committee with a Rehabilitation Implementation Committee (RIC) and a Rehabilitation Implementation Committee–Appeal Committee (RIC-AC).
The new framework is intended to ensure that rehabilitation and Environmental Clearance obligations are implemented alongside the construction of the port’s Phase II, III and IV Master Plan developments in a transparent and time-bound manner.
₹114.52 crore already approved in Phase I
During Phase I, rehabilitation was handled through the LIAC and its Appeal Committee. The government order states that ₹114.52 crore in livelihood compensation was approved for 2,936 beneficiaries from the fisheries sector.
With the expansion of the port project, however, the government expects the project’s impact to extend beyond fishing communities to sectors including tourism, agriculture, transport and other local livelihoods.
Around 900 applications from non-fishing sectors are still pending, according to the order.
Sub Collector to head Rehabilitation Implementation Committee
The new RIC will be chaired by the Sub Collector, Thiruvananthapuram.
Its members will include representatives and officials from Fisheries, Tourism, Labour, Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Health, Animal Husbandry, Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited.
Other departmental officials and technical experts can also be co-opted depending on the subject under consideration.
Social Impact Study and compensation assessment
The RIC will take over the functions previously assigned to the LIAC while receiving a significantly broader mandate.
Its responsibilities include conducting or overseeing a Social Impact Study covering all affected sectors, identifying Project-Affected Persons using suitable and uniform eligibility criteria, assessing livelihood compensation and recommending alternative livelihood-improvement measures.
The committee will also have a role in approving proposals for Social Welfare fund disbursement connected with Public Hearing commitments and identifying additional social welfare activities required in project-affected areas.
District Collector to head appeal committee
The government has also constituted the RIC-AC, with the District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, as its chairperson.
The committee will include senior officials from Fisheries, Tourism and Labour, representatives of Thiruvananthapuram Corporation and Kottukal Grama Panchayat, and the chief executives of Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited and Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited.
The RIC-AC will hear appeals against RIC decisions, review and approve recommendations, approve alternative livelihood-improvement activities, sanction major rehabilitation and livelihood-restoration programmes, monitor fund utilisation and review expenditure against project milestones.
New PMU for execution and monitoring
A Social Welfare & EMP Implementation Project Management Unit (PMU) will serve as the execution and monitoring arm of the new framework.
The PMU will be co-chaired by the District Collector, Thiruvananthapuram, and the Managing Director of VISL. The Sub Collector will function as Member Secretary and Convenor.
The unit will coordinate and monitor rehabilitation, livelihood restoration, Environmental Management Plan and social welfare programmes approved by the RIC and RIC-AC.
₹194 crore corpus under the approved guidelines
The government has also approved detailed Rehabilitation Implementation Guidelines governing the utilisation of funds earmarked for EMP and Social Welfare activities under the Environmental Clearance for Phase II, III and IV development.
The guidelines cover institutional arrangements, evidence-based Social Impact Assessment, identification of Project-Affected Persons, livelihood compensation, alternative livelihood measures, community consultation, transparency, accountability, monitoring and reporting.
The framework will govern utilisation of a ₹194 crore EMP and Public Hearing/Social Welfare corpus, along with the livelihood-compensation provision associated with the Environmental Clearance.
Prior approval mandatory for Adani’s EMP expenditure
The order makes it clear that all expenditure from EMP, Public Hearing commitments and other rehabilitation-related funds must follow the approved guidelines and remain under the overall supervision of the RIC and RIC-AC.
Importantly, EMP expenditure by Adani Vizhinjam Port Private Limited, acting on behalf of the project proponent, can be incurred only with the prior approval of the RIC-AC after the proposals are processed under the approved guidelines.
The new RIC, RIC-AC and PMU will consequently assume the functions of the earlier LIAC and LIAC-AC while taking on additional responsibilities for the Phase II, III and IV/Master Plan development of Vizhinjam International Seaport.
The framework will operate subject to the Environmental Clearance, other statutory clearances and the terms of the Concession Agreement.
