Breakwater works stopped at Kulai fishing harbour

Mangaluru: The construction of the northern breakwater for Kulai fishing harbour, New Mangalore Port, has been stopped based on the fishermen's demand. A release from NMPA stated that the length of the southern breakwater is 262m and is substantially completed. The length of the Northern Breakwater is 831m and is partially completed up to 560m.
Tetrapod casting is in progress, and the placing of tetrapods at the southern breakwater is substantially completed.The placing of tetrapods at the northern breakwater is also substantially completed up to 300m. The contractor has been instructed to place primary and secondary armour for the unprotected length of the western arm of the northern breakwater to protect the core material from being displaced.
Further, NMPA maintained that there was a protest by a group of 100 fishermen demanding the stoppage of ongoing work on Oct 14. Accordingly, as per the directions of Dakshina Kannada MP Brijesh Chowta, a meeting under the chairmanship of AV Ramana, chairperson, NMPA, was held in the board room on Oct 16 in connection with the grievances of local fishermen. The meeting was attended by the MP, MLAs Bharath Y Shetty and Yashpal Suvarna, the local fishermen community, experts from CICEF, CWPRS, third party inspecting agency NITK Surathkal, and PMC.
After detailed discussion and deliberation, the members of the fishermen community did not agree with the views of CWPRS, CICEF, and NMPA, and it was demanded that the ongoing construction of the breakwater be stopped immediately.
The port maintained that once such works are stopped abruptly, they continue to remain in the same state for a longer time due to a lack of decisions. There is a possibility that the core material placed along the western arm of the northern breakwater may get displaced or washed away since it is not protected with armour stones and tetrapods. The core material is not strong enough to withstand the forces of waves and currents. As such, there is a danger of the core material of the breakwater being washed away. This has been substantiated by the third-party inspecting agency NITK. The possible damage or displacement, if any, caused to the core material of the western arm of the northern breakwater due to the non-protection of work and stopping the ongoing work abruptly should not be attributable to the quality of work and also to NMPA, the release added.