The Minister for Fisheries, Ports, and Inland Water Transport, Mankal S. Vaidya, has emphasized the need to reassess the design of the Kulai Fishing Harbour, originally created in 2002, to address evolving geographical and climatic conditions. Chairing a meeting on November 27 at the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), the Minister highlighted concerns raised by local fishermen about the harbour’s design and its suitability for traditional boats.
Mr. Vaidya directed stakeholders to complete the review within 10 days, during which the construction work, halted since October 17, would remain suspended. He proposed involving additional reputed institutions such as IIT-Bombay, IIT-Delhi, or NIG-Goa to ensure an unbiased second opinion. NMPA officials noted that institutions like IIT-Madras, NITK-Surathkal, CICEF-Bengaluru, and CWPRS-Pune had already contributed to the project.
The Minister stressed that any further delay could impact the harbour’s progress and urged a swift resolution.
Project Background
NMPA clarified that the detailed project report (DPR) for the harbour was prepared by the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering for Fishery (CICEF) based on oceanographic studies conducted by the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) between 1998 and 2002. The current site was finalized after extensive consultations involving multiple stakeholders, including fishermen’s representatives and the Fisheries Department.
The project, proposed by the state Fisheries Department and supported by the Central Government under the Sagarmala initiative, is being implemented by NMPA. Any decision on the redesign will involve careful consideration of both safety and operational efficiency to meet the needs of the fishing community.
Source: The Hindu
