THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The construction of breakwater as part of the harbour development project at Muthalapozhi is fast progressing giving huge relief to the fishing community.
The project approved by the Union government under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY),which was launched in August last year, suffered delays owing to unavailability of rubbles for the construction activities.
It is learned that around six lakh tonnes of rubble is required for the construction activities. Around 100 m of the 425-m structure have been completed and the harbour engineering department aims to complete at least 200 m by May end.
However, dredging activities continue to be a concern at Muthalapozhi with the dredger encountering issues. The department had brought in a dredger from Azheekal to Muthalapozhi to widen the harbour mouth and maintain the depth to ensure safe movement of vessels during the monsoon.
The current Muthalapozhi fishing harbour was commissioned back in June 2020. As part of the construction of the Vizhinjam port, the breakwater at Muthalapozhi was partially destroyed to allow for the transportation of rocks via sea for the construction of the port.
“We have removed the rubbles and sand from the harbour mouth which has become safer. The dredging activities will resume soon after fixing the machinery. Such glitches are very common as we are using the dredger extensively. We are planning to complete the dredging activities by February end,” said an official.
The official said that the extended breakwater will be protected with tetrapods. “Before the start of the monsoon efforts will be taken to deposit tetrapods to protect the breakwater. Else rough waves would destroy the structure,” the official added.
Located at the meeting point of Vamanapuram river and the Arabian Sea, Muthalapozhi is a hub for large-scale fishing activities in the district. As many as 160 large fishing vessels and about 400 small ones operate out of the harbour offering livelihood to 20,000 people.
Sulaiman A, chairman of Muthalapozhi Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Union, said that dredging activities are not up to mark. “It’s inadequate but the only positive thing is they are widening the breakwater. Hope this will reduce the number of accidents at the harbour mouth,” he said.
Over 70 lives have perished in the area in the past eight years. As per a study conducted by the Central Water and Power Research Station, extending the breakwater is the only solution to mitigate the impact of the unscientific breakwater at the harbour, which is cited as the cause for growing accidents at the harbour mouth.
Based on the CWPRS report, the harbour engineering department submitted a detailed project report. The comprehensive development project involves extending the southern breakwater by 425 metres, repairing and strengthening of breakwaters, dredging operations, and expanding wharf facilities on the Perumathura and Thazham Pulli sides.