NMPA urges Karnataka to restart Kulai fishing harbour project

The New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) has requested the Karnataka government to allow work to resume on the Kulai fishing harbour project. This comes after a three-member committee reviewed concerns raised about the project. The harbour is being developed with help from the ministry of ports, shipping and waterways, the NMPA, and the state government. Construction of the fishing harbour faced delays due to opposition. A complaint was lodged by M/s GCC, a 49% joint venture partner, which raised issues regarding the alignment and layout of breakwaters. To address these concerns, a technical committee was formed to assess the situation. The committee reviewed documents and reports, concluding that the current layout of the breakwater meets the original plans. The Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) in Pune was asked to study wave conditions at the harbour. Their findings indicated that the proposed breakwaters would ensure safe navigation for fishing boats, even during the monsoon season. Additionally, the vigilance department of NMPA had the National Institute of Technology Calicut (NITC) investigate the local fishermen's concerns. Their survey indicated that the fishermen's worries lacked validity.