Bharathi Shipyard agrees to spend Rs. 10 crore on dredging work

Bharathi Shipyard agrees to spend Rs. 10 crore on dredging work

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Apr 8, 2012: Bharathi Shipyard has agreed to satisfy the local fishermen’s demand and has decided to conduct dredging work. 

The sand had accumulated to such an extent that local fishermen were unable to move their trawlers and Persian boats. Alleging that the accumulation of sand was because of the activities of Bharathi Shipyard, they had stated that it was the responsibility of the shipyard to remove the sand.

On April 7 Saturday, the local fishermen intended to stop Bharati Shipyard from sending out a brand new ship into the sea. Shortly thereafter, Bharathi Shipyard held a meeting with fishermen leaders in the Old Ports’ Mathsyagandhi Hall, during which Bharathi Shipyard decided to spend Rs. 10 crore on dredging and cleaning work in the area. 

When Ponnuraj was the DC of DK, he had heard complaints from local fishermen and had ordered Bharathi Shipyard to conduct dredging work. The company, however, did not do any dredging and excused itself by saying that it was under financial crisis. When they heard that the company is about to launch a new ship, they decided to renew their protests and prevent the company from sending the ship to sea. 

A meeting was also held between the shipyard and the fishermen leaders on April 5 Thursday, during which the fishermen leaders said that the company had to do the dredging from Kasaba Bengre and that government grants will be used to do the dredging in other areas. Bharathi Shipyard, however, appealed to DC Channappa Gowda that the local fishermen are not allowing them to move their new ship into the sea. This angered the fishermen, who also appealed to the DC. 

A press conference was held on Saturday immediately after the meeting, during which Nithin Kumar, the president of the Fisheries Development Corporation (FDC), said that the shipyard has given a written agreement, in which it has state that it will spend Rs. 10 crore on dredging work within 2 years. 

Umesh Karkera, the honorary president of the Karnataka Persian Boat Fishermen Union; President Naveen Karkera; Secretary Naveen Bangera; Rahim Ullal, the vice president of the Trawl Boat Fishermen Union; and fishermen leader Shashikumar were also present.