The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Visakhapatnam News : Plan to shift fishing harbour back in focus

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Saturday, May 09, 2009
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam

Plan to shift fishing harbour back in focus

Santosh Patnaik

Ministry of Home decision on security grounds boon to VPT

State Govt. earlier refused to part fund building a Greenfield fishing harbour on city’s suburbs
VPT asks Indian Institute of Port Management, Kolkata, to conduct a techno-feasibility study

VISAKHAPATNAM: The proposal to shift fishing harbour from the close vicinity of Visakhapatnam Port is revived on security grounds following the decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The proposal, which was considered seriously a decade ago, was buried in cold storage as the Ministry of Agriculture and the State Government refused to fund part of the amount required for building a Greenfield fishing harbour on city’s suburbs.

The Visakhapatnam Port Trust, which is already in possession of required land at Mulakuddu near Bhimili, is very happy at the recent decision of the Ministry of Home Affairs. The land was identified and handed over to the port by the State Government in lieu of 240 acres it gave for expansion of INS Dega airport.

Pollution aspect

The Ministry took the decision to shift the fishing harbours from the vicinity of major ports on security grounds in the backdrop of Mumbai terror attacks.

“It may take a long time. But, if everything goes well, we would like to take up the proposal with all seriousness,” says Ajeya Kallam, VPT Chairman.

The shifting of the fishing harbour would be a big boon for the VPT to expand its berthing and stacking area in addition to containing dust pollution being caused due to coal handling near One Town area.

The fishing harbour, set up in 1976, is spread over 24 hectares. The shifting move was conceived due to congestion and pollution caused to the shallow waters, as dumping of used lubricants and garbage by fishing vessels has turned into a regular feature.

Visakhapatnam is considered the operational hub of deep-sea fishing in the country.

“The proposal, if cleared, will not face any bottleneck, as the stakeholders have also expressed their willingness to shift,” remarks M.A. Yakub Khan, Joint Director of Fisheries.

Cost factor

The VPT management has already asked the Indian Institute of Port Management, Kolkata, an ISO 9001-2000-certified research and consultancy firm, to conduct a techno-economic feasibility study.

The cost will be a big factor as shifting and creation of new facilities will cost around Rs.600 crores to Rs.800 crores.

The earlier proposal put the cost at Rs.200 crores, of which the VPT had volunteered to bear 50 per cent. Sources said now the port expects that the government will support the proposal by part-funding it.

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