Queries on losing property dominate public meet on fisheries jetty

Queries related to acquisition of house or propety for the fisheries jetty proposed to be set up at Kulai near Baikampady, dominated the public meet organised as part of Environment Impact Assessment (EIA), here on Saturday.

Most of the people who were present at the meet were curious to know whether they property would be acquired for the project and whether they would be compensated adequately.

Referring to the answers of the officials that no house would be acquired or no person will be displaced for the project, Deputy Mayor Purushottam Chitrapur, who is also a resident of the area adjacent to project site, sought to know whether the families staying on the government land in the project area would be evacuated.

“If displacement is unavoidable, then the authorities concerned should provide adequate compensation,” he said and appealed the officials to take the local people into confidence before taking any step.

Another resident, Pundalik Hosabettu, said that there were more than 100 homes around the project area and appealed the officials to set up the jetty on the lines of Kerala, where the jetty has come up without displacing the local residents.

Yeshwanth Mendon, a fishermen leader lamented that despite the meeting was scheduled well in advance, neither the deputy commissioner nor the chairman of NMPT nor any public representatives were present.

“Hence, the meeting should be convened again, preferably in the project site, so that the people as well as the officials could do a reality check,” he said.

However, Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumara, who chaired the meeting said that as the deputy commissioner had to attend another important meeting, he could not attend and as per the rules, the Additional DC can chair the meeting in the DC’s absence.

Yathish Baikampady sought to know who would be responsible for dredging in the area and who would be responsible if erosion takes place after the construction of breakwater as happened in the case of Ullal and other areas.

He also said that the roads should to the jetty should be constructed first as decision to construct road after the project would lead into chaos. Sharath, also a resident, warned of protests if the officials fail to keep their words on their promises.

The fisheries jetty proposed to be set up in about 45,000 square metres at a cost of Rs 230 crore would comprise breakwater, quay and jetty, dredging and reclamation facilities. The jetty would be built with funds from the Union government, State government and NMPT.

It would require 420 KLD per day (220 KLD from sea and 200 KLD fresh water), 300 KVA power from Mescom and 200 tonnes of ice per day. It would also have an auctioning place, parking space and adequate water supply and is expected to provide job opportunities for about 500 persons.

The official also said that at present the Dakshina Kannada district has 65 purse seine boats, 928 trawl boats, 1,354 mechanised boats and 512 non-mechanised boats and produces 1.55 lakh tonne fish worth Rs 1,075 crore.