VISAKHAPATNAM : Visakhapatnam Urban Development Authority (VUDA) has come forward to develop the Vizag Fishing Harbour, one of the oldest and biggest fish trade centres in the country. Though there is a major share of exports from the harbour, there is no proper sanitation, drainage system, storage facility, platforms to dry the fish, toilets and even rubber fenders to tag the boats safely. However, the new assurance from VUDA has made thousands of fishermen and traders happy.
Though the Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour contributes a major share in exports on the East Coast, the governments for the past two decades did not take up any development activity due to the proposal to shift the fishing harbour to Bheemili. Recently, the Union government had made it clear that the proposal was dropped. The State government will take up long pending works.
The Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour was constructed in 1976 in an extent of 26 acres with 11 jetties at a cost of `4 crore. The VFH is being operated by the Visakhapatna Port Trust. There are over 1,000 fishing vessels, including trawlers, engaged in fishing activity. As many as 60,000 persons (directly and indirectly) depend on the harbour for livelihood. However, in 1990s, in order to develop the sea trade, a proposal was mooted to shift the existing fishing harbour to Bheemili, leading to widespread protests.
Amid protests from all corners, previous governments did not take any decision on the shifting proposal. As the decision has been pending with the government, the State government agencies and VPT did not initiate development works for the past two decades.
“All these years, the fishing harbour was grossly neglected. The harbour has lion’s share of fish exports from the east coast. As the shifting proposal was dropped, it is time to take up badly needed development works. At a meeting with VUDA vice-chairman T Baburao Naidu, we have requested VUDA to take up development works at a cost of `10 crore. The vice-chairman has accepted our request. However, an action plan has to be prepared for the same,” said Visakhapatnam South MLA Vasupalli Ganesh Kumar.