Measures taken to design sand bypassing system

Thiruvananthapuram: The harbour engineering department has commenced steps to prepare the concept and design of the sand bypassing system at Muthalapozhi fishing harbour. The department recently invited expression of interest (EoI) from registered architects/experienced consulting organisations to prepare the design of the sand bypassing system.
As per the EoI document, the mouth of the harbour is gradually silted up in early summer and eventually filled with sediment transported from the Vamanapuram river and littoral current from the sea.During the south west monsoon, the backwaters along the coast are also flooded.
After breakwater construction, there are tranquillity issues within the channel and breaking of waves have been observed in the channel due to sand deposit. As a result the manoeuvrability of vessels in the channel becomes difficult during certain seasons and chances of accidents occur frequently, the document notes.
Accretion on the south side and the resulting erosion on the north side of the estuary has to be resolved through this project to bypass the sand from south side to north side using HDPE pipes and making it possible to set up a permanent bypassing system, thereby preventing the harbour mouth and channel from silting up.
The officials said the design work has been awarded and that once the final design is completed, the work will be tendered. Fisheries minister Saji Cherian had told the assembly in 2021 that 58 fishermen have lost their lives in accidental drowning which happened at various places between Anchuthengu and Veli in the past 10 years.
The minister added that as per first information reports collected from coastal and local police stations, 11 fishermen died due to accidents at Muthalapozhi harbour in the past five years (2016-21).
Accidents happen due to deposits of sand in the harbour. Steps were being taken for dredging and increasing the depth as per a memorandum of understanding signed with Adani Group, the minister had said.
The authorities had informed that an environment impact assessment study would be carried out to undertake a permanent process of sand bypassing by which sand being deposited in the southern portion could be spread in the northern area which is highly prone to sea erosion. An agreement was signed with a Kochi-based firm.
A team of experts had visited Muthalapozhi earlier and National Institute of Ocean Technology, Chennai, was entrusted with the task of studying the defects in the construction of Muthalapozhi harbour.
The minister had told the assembly about loss of shore in the northern portion following the construction of Muthalapozhi harbour.