Muthalapozhi upgradation: Govt may have to revise plan

Thiruvananthapuram: With the Centre directing changes, the state government will have to revise the proposal for upgradation of Muthalapozhi fishing harbour. In a reply to a question by Adoor Prakash in the Lok Sabha on Tuesday, minister for fisheries Parshottam Rupala said that after scrutiny of the proposal, the state government had been advised in October 2023 to submit a comprehensive proposal incorporating suggestions of studies carried out by state government through the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS), Pune.The state government submitted a proposal for upgradation of Muthalapozhi Fishing Harbour at a cost Rs 50 crore and sought central financial assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).This proposal primarily envisages upgradation of internal road and parking area, construction of new drain, overhead water tank, workers' rest shed, shops, dormitory, gate, gate house, auction hall, loading area, new toilet block, cold storage room, extension of wharf and auction hall, deepening of basin and berthing area, landscaping and beautification works, replenishment of breakwater and providing road facility over breakwater, refurbishment of existing structures, installation of ETP, electrification & yard lighting, installation of surveillance system, power backup facilities, mechanical conveyor system and automation.As per the reply, the state government has reported that its executing agency has been advised to maintain depth in channel and mouth of fishing harbour as per MoU entered into between the state government and its executing agency in connection with construction of load out facility at the harbour, for transporting stones for the construction of breakwaters at Vizhinjam International Sea Port. It is reported that the executing agency has also been directed by the state government to remove the scattered stones lying in the estuary and channel and accordingly, the work using excavators and long boom cranes is progressing, and a dredger has reached the harbour. The state government has further reported that more life guards have been deputed, an ambulance had been allocated for rescue operations and high mast lamps were installed at breakwater for smooth operations at the harbour, the reply noted.The department of fisheries and ministry of fisheries had in July deputed a three-member technical team for the inspection of Muthalapozhi harbour. The team, based on detailed site inspection and local stakeholder consultations, recommended short-term and long-term measures mainly to mitigate the navigational difficulties faced by the fishermen at the fishing harbour. The short-term measures recommended by the technical team primarily include dredging and removal of boulders in the channel and the long-term measures include stabilizing the navigational channel and mouth to ensure safe maneuvering of fishing vessels.