Unscheduled power cuts and capacity constraints by the production units has led to short-supply of ice for the mechanised boats as the new fishing season post-annual ban period has started.
As the Gangamma jatara was observed on Tuesday, the local fishing community has decided to go into the sea from Wednesday though the ban ended from Tuesday midnight. The fishing harbour, which sported a deserved look during the ban period, turned into a beehive of activity. The severe shortage of ice is likely to force some of the boat owners to put off their voyage by a week or so. “As fishing without ice cubes is not possible we are left with no alternative but to postpone the voyage by some of the vessels,” Ch. Satyanarayana Murthy, who owns two boats, told The Hindu on Tuesday.
Thirty-odd ice plants are located in the city at Gantyada, Gajuwaka, Madhurawada and Anandapuram. The fishing harbour has eight plants. Sudden spurt in demand has put the plant owners in a quandary.
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“We are helpless as our capacity is limited and the unscheduled power cuts and increase in labour cost have made our situation difficult. Still we have not increased last year’s per tonne cost of Rs.1300 keeping in view the plight of the fishermen,” Visakha Ice Plant Owners’ Association president D.V.R. Raju said.
Another ice plant owner said before bifurcation they had encountered with repeated power holidays and now they were facing the problem of erratic power cuts. “This increases our cost of production,” he said.
About 700 mechanised boats operate from the fishing harbour. It is expected that only 60 per cent can set out on sail from Wednesday and others have to wait for their turn once the boats going in first phase return.
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Anticipating short-supply, some of the enterprising owners started procuring ice to meet their requirement for past one week or so.
Annual fishing conservation period was observed for 61 days this year, for second consecutive year, from April 15.