Manjeswaram harbour work to keep schedule

After a lull, work on the Manjeswaram fishing harbour project is progressing fast and is set to be completed by December end as scheduled. With the commissioning of the harbour, the northern-most coastal area of the State is expected to become a leading hub of fishing activities.

The work on the ₹48.80-crore project, the first of its kind in northern Kerala, was progressing fast and the harbour would be dedicated any time after the project execution, a senior official of the Harbour Engineering Department told The Hindu here on Friday.

Though the Centre gave environmental clearance for the project in January 2014, work on the project could be started only in September 2015. Of the total project cost, 75% is borne by the Union government.

The harbour is being set upon the Hosabettu beach. Work on the wharf and the south and north breakwaters, measuring 530 m and 490 m respectively, have already been completed.

Breakwater extension

Efforts were on to extend the north-end breakwater by 200 m and administrative sanction for this ₹14.70- crore work received administrative sanction under the Kasaragod development package, the official said.

Simultaneously, work on ancillary units such as covered fish landing, auction units, canteen, washroom, and fishing net and mechanical

engineering maintenance units was progressing and was expected to be completed by November, he said.

While the 1-km approach road to the harbour had already been laid, work on a bridge across an estuary, at an estimated ₹16.70 crore and sanctioned under the Kasaragod development package, would be taken up immediately to facilitate hassle-free movement of vehicles to the harbour.

The project was announced by the previous UDF government.

300 boats

The harbour would be able to handle 300 boats simultaneously and was expected to provide a fillip to fishing activities in areas between Panambur in Mangaluru and Uduma and benefit around 10,000 fisherfolk, he said.

The Harbour Engineering Department was now carrying out a feasibility study to set up a similar harbour on the Ajanur beach, near Kanhangad, and the harbour at Cheruvathur had turned full-fledged now, he said.