Government sanctions ₹5 crore for dredging to ease movement of fishing boats

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President of District Congress Fishermen Cell Chetan Bengre speaking to reporters in Mangaluru on Monday. | Photo Credit: Raghava M.

Appreciating the efforts of Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar in visiting the fishing harbour in Mangaluru and hearing the problems of fishermen, Dakshina Kannada District Congress Fishermen Cell president Chetan Bengre said Mr. Shivakumar has immediately sanctioned ₹5 crore for dredging to enable smooth movement of fishing boats through the Netravati and Phalguni rivers and the estuary.

Talking to reporters at the District Congress office on Monday, Mr. Bengre said the absence of dredging along the stretch for over two decades was the prime concern expressed by fishermen during Mr. Shivakumar’s visit to the Mangaluru fishing harbour on Sunday morning. For the last few years, no one came forward to dredge the stretch by a minimum of 3 metres to ensure smooth movement of fishing boats between the fishing harbour and the sea.

Mr. Shivakumar immediately sanctioned ₹5 crore for dredging and assured a visit by experts from the Union government to look at technical aspects of dredging the stretch.

Mr. Bengre said fishermen have asked the government to procure its own dredging machine. Apart from use in Mangaluru, this dredging machine can be used along the 300 km of the Karnataka coastline. The sand removed following dredging can be put along the riverfront in Mangaluru, which will help fishermen anchor their boats. Presently, it has become hard to anchor around 4,000 fishing boats at the fishing harbour that has space to accommodate 200 fishing boats.

Mr. Bengre thanked the government for going ahead with phase-wise development of the Mangaluru fishing harbour. The government has increased the allocation of diesel for each fishing boat to two kilolitres. The State government was honestly working for the development of the fisheries sector in the region, Mr. Bengre said.

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