Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 11: A fishing boat that was bound to undertake fishing got stuck in a sand block near Kody jetty in the taluk in the early hours of Wednesday April 10. The trawl boat which faced danger named 'Gold Fish' belongs to Riaz from Gangolli.

The boat when leaving from Kody jetty towards Gangolli for fishing got stuck in the sand block. Boat driver, Shiva Kharvi and four other fishermen immediately jumped into the river and planted sticks all around to see that the boat did not capsize. A huge sand block has been created at the spot where the sea and the river meet and boats from Kody find it hard to move into the sea.

A similar problem had arisen here last year as the sediment dug for facilitating consruction of breakwater was deposited on one side of the estuary. The boats from Kody were thereby blocked from entering Gangolli port. After complaints were made, the MLA and officials of the department had visited the spot and arranged to clear the sand block. The current sand block is bigger in size.

Hundreds of boats which get anchored at Kody jetty have to cross the estuary, reach Gangolli mini port and then move to the sea from there. On the way, this sand block was formed and it has damaged and blocked a number of fishing boats in the past. After this one kilometre-long sand block got formed and gained in height, some fishermen have been walking on it and spreading fish nets. Passenger boats which move between Gangolli and Kody also face peril because of this sand block.

The fishermen have been requesting the concerned to clear the sand block which had come up on one side of Kody after a breakwater with a project cost of Rs 102 crore began on Gangolli - Kody estuary. In course of time, additional sand got accumulated and it has now become huge in size and has become a stumbling wall on the east of Kody estuary.