Project to renovate Chinese fishing nets on Fort Kochi beach in limbo

Kerala Tourism's ₹2.40-crore project to renovate Chinese fishing nets in limbo, operators struggle without funds for completion.

About a decade since its inception, the ₹2.40-crore project of Kerala Tourism to renovate the iconic Chinese fishing nets along the Fort Kochi beachfront remains in limbo, with only four of the nets being renovated.

The teak logs that were procured over four years ago for the purpose can be seen abandoned on the beach walkway. Although Kerala Tourism officials say it may take up to November to renovate the rest of the seven nets, those operating the nets are confident that this can be done by August, prior to the commencement of the tourist season, if funds are provided.

Expressing concern at the delay in sanctioning funds, including to procure fishing nets for the project, Sebastian Kurisinkal, president of the Chinese Nets Owners’ Association, say most of the owners and workers are struggling to make ends meet, faced with uncertainty about the renovation of the nets.

“They earn a pittance due to the steep fall in fish catch and sea incursion on the beachfront. They have still not been paid their dues, despite the labour they put into renovating the nets. Both Kerala Tourism and KITCO, the project implementing agency, must take steps to hand over the requisite funds,” he says.

Over time, most of the net operators had replaced the damaged teak logs that support the nets with iron pipes, at the cost of aesthetics of the Chinese nets, due to delay in sourcing forest teak logs of similar length.

Pointing to the need to replace the ageing iron pipes, Mr. Kurisinkal says workers trained in replacing the logs and the wooden stumps of the nets often fail to turn up following the delay in releasing funds.

A Kerala Tourism official said a committee headed by K.J. Maxi, MLA, was overseeing the renovation process, considering the role they played during the past decades in wooing tourists. “It is hoped that the Finance department clears the pending bills so that the renovation of the nets can be completed in six months,” he added.