Mangalore: Shipyard Gives in to Fishermen's Demand, to Begin Rs 10-cr Dredging Work
 
Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (PS)
 
Mangalore, Apr 7: In what may be termed as a ‘tug-of-war’ between the local fishermen and Bharathi Shipyard, the fishermen notched up a victory after the company agreed to their demand to carry out dredging work in the sea.
 
Local fishermen could not move their Persian boats and trawler boats into the sea due to accumulation of sand. They alleged that the sand accumulation was caused by Bharathi Shipyard that clogged sands in Kudroli Bengre Shipyard. Thus, accumulation of sand in areas like Kasba Bengre and Thota Bengre was restricting easy movement of boats.

Fishermen leaders decided to prevent a newly-commissioned ship from venturing into the sea on Saturday April 7. However, a meeting of fishermen leaders and the officials of Bharathi Shipyard was held at Mathsyagandha Hall in Old Port area and it was said that Bharathi Shipyard agreed to carry out dredging work in the area at a cost of Rs 10 cr and cleanse the area within two years.
 
When Ponnuraj was the deputy commissioner (DC), after hearing complaints from fishermen, he had ordered Bharathi Shipyard to dredge the accumulated sand. The shipyard, however, postponed the dredging work stating the excuse of ‘financial crisis’. This caused inconvenience to fishermen. When the matter of launching the new ship came to the notice of the fishermen, they decided to hold a protest preventing the new ship from venturing into the sea.

On Thursday April 5, there was a meetings between fishermen and Shipyard representatives. It was discussed that the dredging should be done from Kasba Bengre to the shipyard. In rest of the areas, the dredging will be carried out using government grant. Contrary to this agreement, Bharathi Shipyard appealed to DC Channappa Gowda that local fishermen are causing problems by not allowing them to venture out with the new ship. This inflamed the already accumulated anger among fishermen and they too approached the DC.
 
On Saturday, at a press conference held after the meeting, Fisheries Development Corporation president Nithin Kumar said that representatives of the shipyard have agreed in writing to carry out dredging in two years at a cost of Rs 10 crore.
 
Karnataka Persian Boat Fishermen Union honorary president Umesh Karkera, president Naveen Karkera, secretary Naveen Bangera, Trawl Boat Fishermen Union vice-president Raheem Ullal, and fishermen leader Shashikumar were present.

Though reporters were called at 8.30 am to cover the meeting, the fishermen leaders denied them entry stating that the gist of the meeting will be given after the meeting. The meeting got over at 11 am, after which a press meet was held.