The Lakshadweep Connection! Construction Materials Shipped to this Island from Old Mangalore Port (OMP)-Bunder
Mangaluru: Lately if you see a bunch of trucks with registration plates of TN and MH plying through the City streets hauling huge water pipes, you may be wondering where they are being taken to. The answer- to the Old Mangalore Port. And If you happen to visit Old Mangalore Port you will see construction materials, like river sand, construction rocks, pipes etc being piled up near the wharf. If you think they are meant for construction activities at the Port, then you may be wrong. Many times these construction materials happen to be the cargo meant for shipping.
If you wonder where these construction materials will go, you may get the answer “…to Lakshadweep”. A major portion of Lakshadweep’s construction sector is dependent on Mangaluru. This coastal city is a strategic location for Lakshadweep. The Old Mangalore Port in Bunder area of the city has been serving the needs of Lakshadweep in various sectors for many decades. Lakshadweep inhabitants have been using Old Mangalore Port for transportation of goods from time immemorial.
Before going further, let us take a look at Karnataka’s coastline. Karnataka has a maritime coastline of 300 km and New Mangalore Port is the only major port in the State. As many as 10 minor ports — Karwar, Belikeri, Tadri, Honnavar, Bhatkal, Kundapur, Hangarakatta, Malpe, Padubidri and Old Mangalore — are under the control of the State Government. The quantity of cargo handled by Old Mangalore may not be huge when compared to others, but it plays a vital role in a union territory’s development.
Aslam, a Vessel Owner who undertakes many shipments to Lakshadweep said, “Nearly 98 percent of the export-import activities at the Old Mangalore Port are linked to the union territory of Lakshadweep. Essential commodities and construction materials are the major export cargoes to the island. Lakshadweep sends copra, scrap items and dry fish to Mangaluru. A few years ago, considering the importance of Mangalore in Lakshadweep’s welfare and development, Hamdulla Sayeed, Member of Parliament of Lakshadweep, had sought the establishment of a dedicated wharf at Old Mangalore Port to meet the requirements of the inhabitants in the island during his visit to Mangaluru. Since then the trade between these two destinations have increased tremendously”.
“Lakshadweep has been using Old Mangalore Port for transportation of essential commodities, items under public distribution system, river sand and petroleum products, among others. For a while, Karnataka Government’s decision to ban the transportation of river sand to Lakshadweep had impacted the non-commercial construction activities in the union territory. But the issue was chalked out through talks. River sand cargo contributes almost 20 percent to the total cargo from Old Mangalore Port to Lakshadweep islands. The shipment of these materials is carried out between May 15 till 15 September every year, before the monsoon starts “added Aslam.
Regarding Lakshadweep, it is a group of islands lying scattered in the Arabian Sea. Its location is between 8 degrees and 12 degrees 30 minutes North Latitude and between 71 degrees and 74 degrees at a distance ranging from 200 kms (111 Nm) to 400 kms (222 Nm) from the southwest coast of the Indian Peninsula. All islands are surrounded by lagoons which are fenced by coral reefs all around. These reefs provide a natural shelter from rough seas, besides adding beauty to the islands. Being away and isolated these remote islands in the past had been connected to the mainland with the indigenous sailing vessels built by the islanders themselves.
The only agriculture crop sufficiently cultivated in these islands is Coconut. Fishing is another trade that the people are mostly engaged in. Cultivation of other crops like vegetables and fruits are only nominal. The area of the islands itself is not sufficient to take up the agriculture activities on large scale. Again the limitation of space and the environmental peculiarities of the islands do not permit for any industrial establishment. Therefore, the people here have to depend fully to the mainland for each and every requirement for their existence. From a hairpin to construction materials has to be imported to the islands from the mainland.
With the increase in the population and their propensity to travel between the islands as well as the mainland, the traditional vessels became incapable of meeting the increased demands. After the territory becoming directly under the Central Government in the year 1956, the administrative machinery has been striving to enhance the facilities of travel and transportation of Cargo to these islands. The Central Government has always been enormously benevolent. It was in 1980 a full-fledged department of Port was established under the Administration of the Union territory.
It is learnt that Mangaluru is strategically located for Lakshadweep, and people of the island are comfortable with doing business in Mangaluru. The proximity of some of the Lakshadweep islands to Mangaluru is also contributing to the business growth of the two regions. While Kiltan Island is 136 nautical miles away from Mangaluru, Andorth Island is 139 nautical miles, Kadamat Island 159 nautical miles, and Amini Island is 162 nautical miles away from Mangaluru. These islands can be reached in 24 hours from here.
Some other islands like Chetlat (143 nautical miles away from Mangaluru), Bitra (170 nautical miles), Kalpeni (175 nautical miles), and Karavatti (187 nautical miles) can be reached in one-and-a-half day from Kudla. Minicoy Island is around 290 nautical miles away from OMP, takes two-and-a-half day journey in the sea to reach that place. In 2010, small cruise ships/mechanized Sailing Vessels started operating from OMP to Lakshadweep, and they still operate at least once or twice a week. Nearly 200-300 passengers can travel on this vessel, they come to Mangaluru to do their shopping and other needs. The Vessel comprises of 6-9 crew members.
Be it flora or fauna, one can see nature’s most colorful creations adorning the landscape of Lakshadweep. With the vessel setting sail, people travelling from here to Lakshadweep can enjoy the dream-like vista provided by tropical islands—clear waters, coral reefs and marine species—as they cruise through some of the thickest forest covers of the country they had only seen in pictures.