Mangaluru : Assurence to fishermen to pursue their trade peacefully

Mangaluru : Assurence to fishermen to pursue their trade peacefully

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangaluru, May 07, 2015: Speaking at the inaugural of the 90 m x 9.75 m  fish landing and berthing quay built at the cost of Rs 5.06 lakh here, Minister for Fisheries Abhaychandra Jain said the State government is  keen towards ensuring hassle free occupation for fishermen community.

 He assured the release of funds needed for Hangarukatte port to upgrade to an all season port.  He assured to take up the issue concerning the soft loans ensured for fishermen community, which is at present for a duration of 12 months. The demand for the extension of loans to 24 months would be considered. He said he would release Rs 1 crore for the auction hall and other basic infrastructural facilities in Hangarukatte jetty. He assured to take up the issue of releasing Rs 4 crore for the finger jetty at Hangarukatte port.


Assuring sanction of the required amount of funds and other amenities for the fish market in Saligarma, he said he would provide for it. He said he would instruct all concerned port authorities not to harass the boats that come in, seeking shelter during the times of cyclone, he said responding to the demand that the boats should be allowed anchoring in the nearest port during emergencies and natural disasters.


He promised to appeal to CM to direct NMPT, Mangaluru to permit  boats, without any charges to be levied.  He said the CM has also assured to increase the amount of diesel from present 300 litres to 400 litres to fishermen.   He added that Rs 646 lakh is released for dredging at the estuary of the rivers and sea at Kodibengre port. The Malpe port third phase project  constructed at the cost of Rs 376 lakh is nearing completion. While an  outside harbor is built at Maravanthe at the cost of Rs 4.5 crore. Rs 6.5 crore is released for Koderi fisheries bunder, he added.

Former MP Jayprakash Hegde demanded that Hangarukatte port should be made all season port. He said that the port is very useful to the fishermen in the region. The port requires the basic infrastructural facilities like breakwater at the sea entrance.  There is also need of frequent dredging.   It would help anchoring of fishing boats. He said the confusion with Malpe fishermen who are demanding that the fishermen in this area should not henceforth anchor their boats in Malpe should be sorted out.

 Janatha Fisheries, Kota,  proprietor Anand Kunder said that this is the only port shelter next to Karwar and Honnavar which is situated very near to national highway. Hangarukatte fisheries port is hardly 1.5 km away from the national highway.  There are 2,000 families in the area covering Gopadi and Beejadi. There are nearly 10 fish factories at Manur, Kota and Beejadi. From now on, the traffic and anchoring of boats in Malpe boat would be reduced. Hangarukatte Mechanized Fishing Boat Association president  B B Kanchan said the jetty can take 200 boats.

However, there are nearly 250 to 300 boats in the region. Until now around 50 to 60 boats were anchored at the port of Kodibengre. The boats in the area covering Mabukalla and Kota would be able to anchor in Hangarukatte jetty.