Abrupt halting of Kulai Fishing Harbour work might displace the core material of Northern Breakwater: NMPA

NMPA halts Kulai Fishing Harbour work, warns of core material displacement due to nature's impact, despite quality assurance.

Having stopped the work on the Kulai Fishing Harbour following demand by traditional fishermen, the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) has cautioned that the core material placed on the western arm of the Northern Breakwater could get displaced because of vagaries of nature.

The Port Authority said on Friday (October 18, 2024) that it has been executing the project, estimated to cost ₹ 147 crore, on behalf of the State Fisheries Department. It was asked to stop the work at a meeting attended by traditional fishermen, MP Captain Brijesh Chowta, MLAs Y Bharath Shetty and Yashpal Suvarna and NMPA Chairman A.V. Ramana, among others on Wednesday (October 16, 2024). The traditional fishermen have claimed that the project in its present nature was not beneficial to them.

In a statement here, the Chief Engineer (civil) of the Port said NMPA understands that once such works are stopped abruptly, they continue to remain in the same state for a longer time for want of decisions. “There is a possibility that the core material placed along the western arm of the Northern Breakwater may get displaced and washed away since it is not protected with amour stones and tetrapods. The core material is not strong enough to withstand forces of waves and currents,” the engineer said.

No blame on NMPA

Port’s apprehension has been substantiated by a third-party inspecting agency, the National Institute of Technology-Karnataka at Surathkal. “The possible damage / displacement, if any, caused to the core material of the western arm of the northern breakwater due to non-protection of work and stopping the ongoing work abruptly should not be attributable to the quality of work and also to NMPA,” the engineer stated.

Work progress

NMPA had issued the work order for the harbour in March 2022 to M/s SAPL GCC Joint Venture on engineering, procurement and construction mode. The contractor was expected to complete the work within four years. While the Central Government bears 50% of the cost, the NMPA bears 45%, and the State Government bears 5% of the cost.