Poovar suitable location for shipyard: Minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Studies will be conducted at Poovar-Pozhikkara in Neyyattinkara Taluk for studying the feasibility of establishing a shipyard there, Transport Minister V S Sivakumar said the other day. Discussions were held with Chief Minister Oommen Chandy in this regard, he said. A Mumbai Port Trust study and a hydrographic survey in 2009 showed Poovar was suitable as a location for establishing a shipyard.  People would not have to be displaced for the project as it had an uninhabited coastline of two kilometres and revenue land. The water had a depth of 25 metres and it was possible to construct breakwaters, the Minister said.