Kerala - Kochi   

Face-lift for Chinese fishing nets planned

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI, JUNE 8. Chinese fishing nets, one of the most photographed objects in the State, will get another chance to survive.

The majestic nets that have lured not just fish but hordes of foreign tourists too have become unviable business propositions for their owners of late. Now the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) is working on a proposal to convert them to profit-making units.

One of the main complaints raised by the owners of Chinese fishing nets is that the boats fishing in the backwaters have brought down the catch considerably. "The new proposal, which will be completed soon, has provisions for income generation through tourism related activities," said convenor of Kerala Chapter of INTACH, K. J. Sohan.

As many as five nets each in Fort Kochi were lost during the recent sea erosion caused by a low pressure point that developed at the Arabian Sea and as many were abandoned along Vypeen coast due to losses incurred. There used to be 35 nets along both these coasts at one time.

The INTACH is also preparing a detailed documentation of the nets and working on alterative material to be used in establishing them, which would cut down the cost of operation considerably. "Instead of coconut wood, a couple of nets used concrete stumps for placing the net and it worked," Mr. Sohan said.

The Department of Tourism is also awaiting the detailed project report in preserving the nets in working conditions. "We have not received any proposal in this regard so far. But we are ready to take up the work as soon as it is presented," said the Tourism Regional Director, V.A. Aurangazeb.

It is estimated that setting up of a new net would cost about Rs. 2.5 lakhs. "In addition, we need to cough up around Rs. 50,000 for the annual maintenance. Even though, these nets are being highlighted as a hot tourist showpiece, hardly anything from the tourism revenue filter down to actual labourer at the nets," said Vincent Palackal, who owns a net along the Fort Kochi beach.

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• Students, schools to be felicitated
• Thousands witness Venus in transit
• Face-lift for Chinese fishing nets planned
• 20 power tillers for grama panchayats
• Protest against digging of road
• Workshop on biogas plant
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• In Kochi Today

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