Tarun Karthick
Sri Vijaya Puram, 16 August 2025
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has urged the Directorate of Shipping Services (DSS) to immediately resume deployment of passenger ships with container-carrying facilities to Katchal Island, citing a worsening shortage of essential commodities.
In a letter addressed to the Director of Shipping Services, CPI (M) State Secretary D. Ayyappan recalled that ships such as Nalanda and Sindhu were earlier deployed to Katchal but their services were discontinued several months ago. He pointed out that repeated requests from the general public and local traders to restore these ships have gone unheeded.
According to Ayyappan, vessels like M.V. Sentinel are currently transporting goods to Katchal, but traders have reported that cargo often arrives damaged, leading to significant losses. “The traders and public of Katchal have been demanding deployment of ships like Nalanda and Sindhu with container facilities, as the present arrangement is causing heavy damage to goods,” Ayyappan wrote.
Highlighting growing discontent, Ayyappan informed the DSS that shopkeepers in Katchal staged a protest on August 16 by shutting down their establishments. Traders also submitted a letter to the authorities reiterating their demand for proper shipping services. Residents and workers told the CPI (M) leader that many essential items are no longer available on the island because of the disruption in container-carrying passenger ship services.
The CPI (M) has called upon the DSS to immediately schedule sailings of ships like Nalanda and Sindhu to Katchal Port to restore supply of essential commodities. It further pressed for regular berthing of such ships at the island to ensure continuous availability of necessities for its residents.
