News & Pics: Vinay Pais
for Daijiworld Media Network - Kundapur (AF)

Kundapur, May 31: The fishermen of Gangolli are in a dilemma. Fishing season began this time with a whimper as there was scarcity of fish in the sea. But now that fish is available in abundance fishing activity is coming to a premature closure, thanks to the approaching monsoons and roaring sea.

The fishermen of Gangolli have been longing to fish, but the high tides prevent them from venturing in to the sea. The season is hardly better than what it was last time.

The construction work on the mini port of Gangolli is still incomplete. So far Rs 3.32 crore has been spent on it but the indifference of the authority concerned has added insult to injury. The mini port has a long jetty of 405 metres. There is unrest and uncertainty among the fishermen due to pestering dispute over their fishing limits.

Besides, the desilting work at the confluence of the river and the sea has been hanging in balance for a long time. The repair works on the old jetty at an estimated cost of Rs 3.50 crore are still pending. It is an embarrassing situation for the people of Gangolli. On the one hand no grant for the breakwater work has been released and on the other no desilting work has begun either.

More than 30,000 people in the surrounding region of Gangolli depend on fishing for their livelihood. As per the official estimate more than 1000 boats are in service. But in reality only about 500 of them are engaged in fishing. The bigger diesel boats like gillnet and trawl could not reap the benefits of fishing this time due to the raging sea.

Now it is time for the new government to find a solution to the woes of Gangolli fishermen.