KOTTAYAM: Adani Group, that is building the Rs. 6,595 crore Vizhinjam International Seaport Ltd (TISL), on Tuesday announced that it would pay Rs. 5 lakh each to the family of those who died in the aftermath of cyclone Ockhi that struck the coastal areas in November last.

Adani Ports CEO Karan Adani gave the assurance to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during a meeting here.

Mr. Adani, who also met the Ports Minister Kadakampally Ramachandran, is understood to have requested the Chief Minister to give an extension for completing the port project as they have suffered huge damages following the cyclone.

The Chief Minister said the Government would not be able to give an extension and that it would have to conduct a study before giving any commitments. He also advised Mr. Adani that the company bring additional equipment to make up for the lost time, sources said.

Two heavy dredgers got damaged when the cyclone struck, besides due to various environmental issues, lime stones from granite quarries here is not available which is the main raw material for the construction’s first phase, the Adani Group had said.

The port was to be opened on December 5, 2019, but last month Adani Ports informed the State Government that due to the disaster they need an extension of 18 months.

The agreement was signed on August 17, 2015 and construction work began on December 5, 2015.