THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a significant step, a technical committee constituted by the Centre has approved a Rs 177 crore development project for Muthalapozhi harbour development. The approval was granted by the Union ministry of fisheries, animal husbandry, and dairying. According to a source in the harbour engineering department, the official announcement from the Centre is expected soon. Once the letter from the Centre is received, the state govt will issue tender for each component of the development projects, including the breakwater extension and remote-controlled buoys.
The Centre is set to fund 60% of the total project cost, while the remaining 40% will be covered by the state govt. The project was initially estimated at Rs 163 crore but was revised to Rs 177 crore due to the inclusion of additional components aimed at enhancing the harbour’s safety and infrastructure. “The internal technical committee has approved the project, but we can only proceed further once we receive the official letter. Each component of the project will be tendered separately to expedite the development,” said an official from the harbour engineering department.
Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) in Pune was tasked with identifying solutions to mitigate the risks caused by unscientific construction at the harbour. Later, the harbour engineering department prepared a detailed project report (DPR) based on the model study conducted by CWPRS and it was handed over to chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan in Feb this year.
Frequent fatal accidents involving fishing vessels at the harbour’s entrance, where the Vamanapuram River meets the Arabian Sea, prompted the state to take action. The CWPRS study recommended increasing the length of the south-side breakwater by 425 meter and to employ sand bypassing method.
Additionally, the project includes the construction of a new wharf, an auction house, restrooms, water tanks, and the renovation of roads and parking areas, along with electrical and water supply works. The Muthalapozhi fishing harbour, commissioned in 2020, has been plagued by safety concerns due to the accumulation of sand and hazardous conditions at the harbour mouth. The Union govt earlier asked the state govt to submit a proposal for improving the harbour under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). After reviewing the initial proposal, the Centre requested the state to provide a more detailed plan based on studies conducted by CWPRS.In May this year, the state minority commission held a special sitting to address the issues related to the frequent accidents occurring in Muthalapozhi. The commission also registered a suo motu case and summoned officials from various departments, including the fisheries department, harbour engineering department, and coastal police.
Between Jan 2011 and Sept 2024 at least 66 people died in accidents at the Muthalapozhi fishing harbour. The channel between the harbour’s two breakwaters can become treacherous during monsoon season when waves and river water push against each other.
