Construction of a new harbour at Keechnkuppam near here has been gaining momentum. The Fisheries Department has been executing the project at an estimate of Rs. 45 crore under the World Bank-funded Emergency Tsunami Rehabilitation Package (ETRP).
The major infrastructure at this harbour, among other things, included state-of-the-art sheds for mending the fishing nets, washing the fish-crates, generator room and other essential services. Road, street lights facilitating access to the harbour would be provided in course of time, the official said. The harbour is considered a gift to the fishermen of Nagapattinam as they will soon have improvised facilities for anchoring their boats. Presently, they have been using a piece of land which is not only small and old harbour but also belongs to the Maritime Board. “The landing and anchoring of boats has been a tough task for the fishermen,” say official sources. The harbour, on the backwaters of the Kaduvaiaru, runs to a cumulative length of 750 metres -- 250 metres on the north and 500 metres on the south.
Work on construction of harbour on the northern part had been completed and, in fact, boats are being anchored at this yard, dredging on the southern side has been in progress, according to sources. As many as 750 boats can be anchored at this harbour.
A cross section of Nagapattinam fishermen point out that the harbour would facilitate not only easy landing but also proper maintenance of the boats.
