KOCHI: The Greater Cochin Development Authority may end up losing the entire Rs`4.5 crore it invested in the cage fish farming at Mundamveli if the authority doesn't take immediate steps to revive the project.
It's been two years since the farm has come to a halt. With the new council yet to take any decision on the project, local residents say they have lost hope in GCDA fulfilling its earlier promises.
Joseph, 70, who stays near the caged fish farming site said it's been over two years since any fishing happened here. "Sometimes officers from the authority visit the farm, but our complaints fall on deaf ears," he said. "When the project was set up by former GCDA chairman N Venugopal, we were promised they would build a culvert in the area for the water to drain out. The authority has not implemented it until now. With all our drains closed, the water gets clogged in our house premises. They should consider the plight of the residents living in the area. Whom should we approach with our grievances?" he asked.
"Two years back, they promised us they would build a culvert along the road and they closed all our drains. And now we face severe waterlogging," said Ravinanthan, another local resident. With the arrival of monsoon rains, the situation has worsened. "Due to the water logging, mosquitoes and other insects are giving us sleepless nights," he added.
The project, marred by various controversies, was shut down following protests by environmentalists that large swathes of mangroves were destroyed to implement the project. Even after the district collector submitted reports showing no mangroves were destroyed, GCDA did not revive the project.
"We have been complaining to the officers who visit the area. Even though they agree, no actions have been taken by GCDA," said Revathy V, a resident of Mundamveli.
"When the project was launched on January 2016, the farm was expected to harvest almost eight tonnes of fish. But later the farming came to a halt," said former GCDA chairman Venugopal.
GCDA chairman had earlier told Express that profit of over Rs 5 lakh earned from fish harvest including pearl spot and seer fingerlings was not sufficient to meet the expense of around Rs 4.5 crore.
GCDA officers said no decision has been taken regarding the project. "Decisions are yet to be taken on regarding the caged fish farming project. We are focusing on the implementation of various other pending projects," said a GCDA officer.