State Government plans to modernise the Paradip Fishing Harbour soon. Department of Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (DoFARD) Secretary Bishnupada Sethi chaired the seventh governing body meeting of the Management Society of the fishing harbour held here on Wednesday which decided to develop infrastructure needed to boost export.Sethi asked officials to prepare a Comprehensive Detailed project Report (DPR) in this regard incorporating all aspects of development of the harbour. The Paradip Fishing Harbour is one of the largest fishing hubs in the country where over 1,000 trawlers, mechanised boats both small and medium sizes operate, which needs infrastructure upliftment, said the stakeholders.Looking at their demand, Sethi said the harbour would soon be modernised to meet the norms set by the European Union (EU) and the MPEDA. The harbour has revenue earning of Rs 3.65 crore, out of which Rs 2.34 crore has been spent. The major constraints and concerns relate to dredging of the Mahanadi mouth and the harbour basin as they pose a threat to the lives of fishermen as the berth-river confluence has not been dredged, resulting in heavy siltation.The berths where boats are anchored are getting shallow due to sea erosion while the problem of siltation is getting acute in the absence of dredging, causing inconvenience in the movement of trawlers. The high tides in the sea are pulling the boats to the seabed. So, it was decided to start harbour basin dredging within 15 days. The meeting also decided to go in for a bathymetry survey by the IIT Madras for Mahanadi mouth dredging.Other issues like repair of approach road and internal roads, dedicated power and water supply to the harbour, upgradation of the second auction hall and the pre-processing unit were discussed. Sethi also harped upon coastal security measures and safety of the fishermen at sea. He wanted maintenance of logbook and carrying of Marine Fishermen Identity Card (MFID) by all crew members going for fishing in the sea.Paradip ADM Biswajit Biswal, OMFA president Srikanta Kumar Parida and the Joint Director of Fisheries (Costal), Odisha were present, among others.
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