The promise given by the fisheries minister Saji Cherian about starting dredging works at Muthalapozhi on Tuesday remains unfulfilled. It is learnt that the port authorities are yet to get the right equipment to begin work. Even though the crane to begin work was expected to arrive by Tuesday evening, it has not reached the port yet.
According to the harbour engineering department sources, the crane belonging to the port authorities cannot be used for dredging purposes at a surface like Muthalapozhi. Hence, they are expecting to bring a new crane from Nagercoil.
The minister on Monday had promised that the dredging works to keep the depth of Muthalapozhi harbour at five feet will begin on Tuesday as Adani Ports has agreed to it. The frequent accidents at Muthalapozhi have led to the decision to do dredging works.
In the last one month 18 fishing boats have capsized at the harbour. Sand and rock accumulation at the harbour mouth was pointed out as the cause of frequent accidents; and dredging to increase depth was suggested as a solution. Following it, the minister promised to start dredging works at the harbour using a long-boom crane on Tuesday.
“On Tuesday, the climate was very good to start dredging works, but nothing has been done so far. This is the kind of attitude the Adani Group and government have towards the issues of fishermen. There is no one to monitor whether works are done as per the promises. A Janakeeya Samithi should have been formed to monitor the works so that there would have been much more transparency in the promises and the works to be done,” said Eugine Periera, vicar general of Latin archdiocese.
Even on Tuesday, a fishing boat capsized at Muthalapozhi and a fisherman was injured. The delay in the beginning of dredging works poses a threat to the life and livelihood of the fishermen.
As per the pact signed by the Adani Group with the harbour engineering department, the former has to clear the sand and rocks being accumulated at the harbour.
The state government has also promised to implement sand bypassing technology at the harbour as a permanent solution to remove the sand deposit at a cost of Rs 11 crore.