Fishermen at Malpe troubled seriously due to space crunch in port

Fishermen at Malpe troubled seriously due to space crunch in port

Mangalore Today News Network

Udupi, July 16, 2014:  Fishermen at Malpe Fishing port are facing a horrendous space crunch the cause is chiefly  the incomplete work on the third phase of Malpe fisheries port.  Officials state the work on the third phase of the port is likely to be completed by the year end. Till the work is complete and the facilities are made available, the fishermen have no alternative.

Fishing boats anchored in the port at the time of suspension of fishing in the monsoon,  have a very trying time for space to anchor their boats. To avoid this fishermen anchor their boats even two weeks before the commencement of the fishing ban period which cuts into their income and the ban period too in inflated.

Udupi district has about  87 purse seine boats, 1,153 trawler boats and 3,455 gillnet and other mechanised boats.  Apart from this, there are 1,527 traditional boats engaged in fishing. There is a provision for  anchorage to  only 800 boats. To help the fishermen, the work on third phase of the port was started three years ago at an estimated cost of Rs 37.15 crore.

Fishermen said “if the fourth stage of the work is complete, then all the boats will get space for anchoring. Without the completion of the third phase of the work, the fourth phase is not in sight.”  Yojaka co officer said “about 80 per cent of the work has been completed. Facilities for boat repair, canteen and toilets have been provided. The work is likely to be completed by December.” In the fourth phase, 600 mts will be actioned. Without the completion of the third phase,  government permission for the fourth phase may not come. It has been planned to develop 500 mt  long jetty at Padukere and 400 metre- long jetty at Bobbaryapade, said Minister for Fisheries Abhayachandra Jain during his recent visit to Udupi. The bottomline is that projects must be executed in reasonable time.