Posted on December 12, 2017
The state marine fisheries department has sought the help of Paradip port for dredging the Mahanadi river mouth – where the state’s largest fishing harbour is located -to ensure the safety of sea-going fishermen.
The depth of the navigation channel has dipped over the years due to silt deposition, posing a threat to hassle-free movement of fishing crafts. Incidents of boat capsize and human casualties have become a recurring phenomenon at the all-important navigation route.
The depth of the river mouth has now reduced to less than one metre while the fishing vessels need a minimum depth of four metres for smooth and safe navigation.
The port had last taken up dredging of the navigation channel during1997-98.
“The river mouth dredging project requires Rs 20 crore. We have requested the Paradip Port Trust (PPT) to fund the project. The port has the expertise to execute such delicate project at the river-ocean confluence. The matter has also been brought to the notice of the centre-run National Fisheries Development Board. We have also sought the assistance of the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (Cicef),” said Bharat Bhusan Sahoo, manager of Paradip fishing harbour.
“The river channel that meets with the sea from the harbour side is heavily silted. This is resulting in frequent vessel capsize. The harbour needs to be dredged for smooth navigation of seaward fishing vessels,” the official said.
The port trust will hold an internal meeting of December 15, where it will decide whether it will be able to dredge the river mouth.
The fishing harbour, commissioned in 1998, is the state’s largest exporter of marine produces, mainly sea fish. An estimated 3,500 metric tonnes of high-grade shrimps are exported mainly to European countries every year from this fishing hub. The annual shrimp export turnover from the harbour is estimated at Rs 150 crore. That accounts for more than 40 per cent of total annual shrimp export from the state.
In March, chief minister Naveen Patnaik had made an official request to Union shipping minister Nitin Gadkari for dredging the Mahanadi river mouth to ensure the safety of the sea-going fishermen.
Source: The Telegraph
