Mangalore: Gale Damages Six Anchored Boats - Fishermen Blame Non-silting

Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/SB)

Mangalore, Apr 20: Gale that struck the sea near Thota Bengre here in the wee hours of Wednesday April 20 as a result of heavy rains that lashed the city last night has proved destructive to the fisher folks damaging as many as six anchored fishing boats.

The boats damaged are Aishwarya of Madhava Puthran, Deepali of Omkarnath, Mahamayi Prasanna of Madhava Suvarna, Guliga Prasanna of Loknath, Jalapanduranga of Narasimha Shriyan and Jala Nagini of Harinath Puthran.

As a result of low tides, aftermath of gale, water-logged into the engine and diesel tank of the boats, thus damaging the body of the boat to a great extent. Fibre is also damaged. The loss caused has been estimated at Rs 5 to 6 lac in total and at Rs 80,000 to 1 lac each boat.

When Daijiworld contacted Shashikumar Bengre, member of Trawl Boats Union he said even during the low tides, boats have been damaged due to long pending dredging work. The local fishermen have been suffered to great extent, the concerned department has not taken any action about dredging and compensation for the loss is also not given. He also urged the concerned to take action for extension of Mangalore harbour.

Recalling the times of Madras government he said there were 2 dredgers and every year they used to remove accumulated silt. But now it has been four years years, no action has been taken to remove silt, resulting in mess. After the appearance of Shipyard, water level has gone down in Kudroli Bengre, Thota Bengre, Kasaba, Alve Bagilu, and due to non-silting boats sail on the surface resulting in fall of boats even during low tides, he alleged.

It becomes the primary duty of the concerned to tackle the issue before the monsoon hits and before more damage is occurred.