Fishing boat with 26 aboard overturns at Muthalapozhi

Thiruvananthapuram: Fishing boats meeting with accidents has become a common affair at Muthalapozhi harbour and the promise given by the state government of starting dredging works as a solution has not been fulfilled.
A fishing boat, carrying 26 people on board, hit the rocks and overturned while returning after fishing on Wednesday. Luckily, none in the boat, owned by Puthukurissi-resident Anilkumar, sustained an injury.
According to the fishermen in the area, boats met with accidents 22 times in the last two months.
A study conducted by the Janakeeya Padanasamithi pointed out soil and stone deposition in the harbour as the cause of the frequent accidents. The study report recommended immediate dredging works at the harbour to increase its depth.
As per the pact the Adani Group signed with the harbor engineering department, Adani Group is responsible to clear the sand and stones being deposited at the harbour. The state government promised that the deposited stones and sand would be removed on a permanent basis from the harbour through sand bypassing technology at a cost of Rs 11 crore.
After protests by fishermen, the state government had promised to start dredging works on a war-footing. However, nothing has been done so far. “This is the kind of attitude Adani and government have towards the issues of fishermen. There is no one to monitor whether the works are done as per the promises,” said Eugine Periera, vicar general of the Latin archdiocese of Trivandrum.
Union minister for fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying Parshottam Rupala, who recently visited Muthalapozhi, had assured that all necessary steps would be taken to make the harbour accident-free. “The report of the central water and power research station, which is conducting the study, will be placed before those associated with the fisheries sector, people’s representatives and the state government for discussion. A permanent solution can be reached soon,” he had said.