Even as six fishermen had a narrow escape when their fishing boat capsized near Paradip Fishing Harbour (PFH), Odisha’s largest fishing hub, on Monday, fishermen alleged non-dredging at Mahanadi river mouth was leading to frequent mishaps, besides hampering fish catch.
A mechanised boat, which was returning after fishing in deep sea, toppled close to the PFH on Monday morning. While two fishermen immediately swam to safety, four got trapped under the boat. Reports, however, said all fishermen were rescued.
Odisha Marine Fish Producers’ Association (OMFPA) has expressed serious concern over frequency at which boats are meeting accidents near Mahanadi River Mouth.
The association said an accident in August last had left two fishermen dead and two others missing. The association sources said the casualties would have been more as most of time fishermen, who are expert swimmers, saved themselves by managing to swim ashore.
The harbour, established in 1998, had been under dual administrations – Paradip Port Trust and Odisha government – sine 2011. But four years ago, the State government took control over the hub.
“As many as 700 mechanised trawlers operate from the harbour. At any point of time, more than 100 boats could be found anchoring at the harbour. When the fishing harbour was established, around that time dredging was carried out. Since then periodical dredging, which is required, has not been taken up,” said OMFPA president Sumant Biswal.
Mr. Biswal said the minimum depth of five metre should have been maintained at river mouth in order to ensure smooth anchoring and sailing of boats. “But now the depth is around two metre and at some places it is even less than that. Trawler operators are forced to embark on fishing depending on high tide. The uneven riverbed near sea always causes accident,” he said.
Mr. Biswal said due to uncertainty in trawler operation, the number of fishing days was gradually coming down.
The more than decade-long dual administration of harbour added to confusion. National Fishery Development Board could not take up dredging of the harbour. According to official sources, a proposal had been submitted with the State government for dredging of mouth. A quick decision is unlikely as the project cost would run into more than Rs.100 crore.
