Dredging works to begin at Muthalapozhi today, says minister

Thiruvananthapuram: Rejecting the harbor engineering department’s recommendation to close Muthalapozhi harbour in view of the frequent fishing-boat accidents, fisheries minister Saji Cheriyan promised to take all possible measures, including dredging works and other projects, to mitigate the dangers on Monday.On Monday too, two persons were hurt after a fishing boat carrying seven fishermen capsized off Muthalapozhi coast. As per data with the fishermen, 18 boat accidents have taken place since the onset of monsoon.“Dredging works to remove sand and soil from the harbour will commence on Tuesday to maintain its depth at 5m. Measures will be taken to enhance security and infrastructure at the harbour. A 30-member rescue team, by including fishermen who are experts in diving, will be deployed. A buoy will be installed to foresee the nature of the sea and weather to share safety warnings with the fishermen. Six high-mast lights will be placed and the road leading to the harbour will be renovated. Three rescue boats and an ambulance will be made available at the harbour at all times,” Cheriyan added.Deposition of sand at the harbour is the cause of accidents, he said. “To avoid it, sand bypassing, a technology to channelize the sand deposited from one side to the other through a pipe, will be implemented at a cost of Rs 11 crore. Administrative sanction for the project will be given in four days, and in two months the work can begin,” he said.The minister’s promise came after a meeting with Adani Group, in which ministers V Sivankutty and Antony Raju were also present, on Monday to discuss measures to resolve the issue. Cheriyan said that Adani Group representatives are supposed to do the dredging works as per a pact with the harbour engineering department. “If the group fails to keep the promises, stringent measures will be initiated. The dredging works may continue for four days until the required depth is achieved,” he added.Fishing boats meeting with accidents has become a regular affair at Muthalapozhi and there was a huge uproar against the government’s apathy in taking measures to curb accidents.

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