The Hindu : Front Page : Rs. 27-crore fishing harbour for Colachel

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Monday, Aug 04, 2008
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Rs. 27-crore fishing harbour for Colachel

P. S. Suresh Kumar

NAGERCOIL: A sum of Rs. 27.10 crore had been allocated for construction of a fishing harbour at Colachel in Kanyakumari district. The required land of 3.75 hectares was acquired from the Tamil Nadu Maritime Board, said the Executive Engineer of Department of Fisheries, S. K. Mohanan.

Speaking to The Hindu here, he said that the cost of the project would be shared equally between the State and the Centre. In this project, space would be provided to berth mechanised fishing vessels and fibre-reinforced boats, along with necessary approach bund.

A quay to a length of 242 metres would be constructed to facilitate loading of fuel and food and unloading of fish and other fishing gear. An auction hall, net-mending shed, gear shed, workshop, administrative office, canteen, toilets, generator room, radio communication tower and security room would be the other facilities.

Compound wall, drainage facility and approach road had also been proposed in the scheme, Mr. Mohanan said.

The harbour will benefit fisherfolk of Colachel, Kodimunai, Vaniyakudi, Kurumbanai, Kottilpadu, Mandaicaduputhur and Chinnavilai.

It was expected to enhance foreign exchange earnings through export of high quality fish and prawns, especially tuna fish fertilised in wedge banks. It would generate employment for 1,600 persons directly and 5,000 persons indirectly, particularly those from fishermen community.

There was no fishing harbour between Kanyakumari and Neerodi along the west coast of the district. Nearly 1,500 mechanised vessels from the district had switched operations to Kerala, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat. Kanyakumari fisheremen were facing problems leading to clashes, damage to boats, nets and other property in alien fishing centres, said Mr. Mohanan.

Local Administration Minister M. K. Stalin would lay the foundation stone for the harbour at Colachel on August 5.

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