The Gilakaladindi habour near Machilipatnam has been approved by two export inspection agencies (EIA) of the Government of India for export of prawn to European Union (EU) countries.
The EU has made it mandatory for harbours to be certified by government agencies to ensure hygienic conditions. According to the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA), Visakhapatnam, the EU countries have fixed certain standards in packing, storage facilities and on-the-site hygienic conditions at harbours to allow marine fish exports from India and other selected countries. “EIA representatives had inspected the Gilakaladindi habour in 2013 and had approved it, allowing imports of prawn varieties from here” MPEDA Visakhapatnam Region Deputy Director A. Ansar Ali said.
The Rs. 60 lakh Sewage Water Plant under construction at the harbour will be commissioned by early September, MPEDA officials said. Nearly 100 boats are being operated from the harbour as of now.
According to an official agency of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Netherlands, the import of shrimp and prawn from developing countries (DCs) is high in Spain, France, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands, which account for 95% of import value from developing countries to the EU.
Proposals for sand dredging“The estimated cost for dredging of sand in 1.5 lakh cubic metres near the entrance of the harbour from the sea has gone up from Rs. 45 crore in 2005 to Rs. 75 crore by 2012,” said Ports Department Executive Engineer G. V. Raghava Rao. The Ports Department has begun fresh assessment for dredging work. As of now, boats have to stay in the sea near the harbour entrance until sufficient water level is reported, thanks to formation of long shore drift or littoral drift.