Development of Fishing Harbour at Kulai: Progress and Challenges
Mangaluru: A significant step towards enhancing the fishing infrastructure in Karnataka is underway with the development of a Fishing Harbour at Kulai. This ambitious project is a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways, the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA), and the Government of Karnataka. Originally envisaged in 1989, the project has undergone extensive consultations over the past three decades, involving various stakeholders including the Ministry of Agriculture, the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) in Pune, the Coastal Engineering for Fisheries (CICEF) in Bangalore, and local fishing community representatives.
The proposal for the “Construction of a Fishing Harbour at Kulai” was formally approved by the Government of India at an estimated cost of Rs. 196.51 crore. The Fisheries Department in Mangalore serves as the project proponent, while the NMPA acts as the implementing agency. Work on the project commenced on March 20, 2023, focusing initially on the construction of the Southern and Northern Breakwaters. The Southern Breakwater, measuring 262 meters, is nearing completion, while the Northern Breakwater, with a total length of 831 meters, has reached a partial completion of 560 meters.
Despite the progress, local traditional fishermen have expressed ongoing concerns regarding various project parameters, including the length and layout of the breakwaters. These apprehensions were escalated to local political representatives and the Minister of Fisheries, Ports, and Inland Waterways. In response to these concerns, the Director of Fisheries, as the project proponent, instructed the NMPA to suspend ongoing construction on September 27, 2024, until a resolution could be reached through consultations involving all stakeholders.
As a result, construction has been on hold since October 16, 2024. To address the fishermen’s concerns, a three-member technical expert committee was established, with members from the National Institute of Oceanography (NIO) in Goa, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) in Chennai, and the National Centre for Coastal Research (NCCR) in Chennai. The committee recommended a Real-Time Kinematic (RTK) GPS survey of the construction site, which was conducted on January 6, 2025, and witnessed by representatives from the National Institute of Technology Karnataka (NITK), the Project Management Consultant, and the NMPA’s Vigilance Department.
The findings from the RTK GPS survey, as examined by NITK, concluded that the alignment of the breakwaters is acceptable when compared to the original layout provided by the NMPA. The expert committee, after reviewing the survey results and relevant project documentation, affirmed that the layout and alignment of the constructed breakwaters are consistent with the original plans. Furthermore, the committee emphasized the importance of maintaining quality standards to ensure that the fishing community receives the best possible facilities.
As the project continues to evolve, the collaboration between government authorities, technical experts, and the local fishing community remains crucial to its successful completion and the long-term benefits it promises to bring to the region.