Breakwater work halted amid monsoon concerns

Thiruvananthapuram: Construction work on the Rs 177-crore modernisation project at Muthalapozhi Harbour has ground to a halt after traditional fishermen staged a protest against the ongoing breakwater extension, which they claim is being carried out in an ‘unscientific’ manner that could worsen accidents at the harbour mouth. The protest escalated after a fishing boat capsized at the harbour on Saturday. Fishermen forcibly stopped all construction activity at the site, though no casualties were reported. Harbour engineering department officials held talks with community representatives, but the discussions ended in a deadlock, as fishermen continued to oppose the current construction design. Govt sources attributed the capsize to swell waves, a phenomenon common along the coast at the onset of monsoon season, maintaining that rough sea conditions, not the construction work, caused the incident. The modernisation project is being implemented jointly by the Central and state govts under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY). Its centrepiece is a 420-metre curved extension of the southern breakwater, angled northward to create a safer harbour entrance. Around 220 metres of this extension has already been completed. Despite the progress, fishermen have raised concerns that the design increases navigational risks during the monsoon. They argue that strong northern currents and heavy waves could push vessels uncontrollably into the breakwater, risking fatal accidents. Muthalapozhi has long been regarded as one of Kerala's most dangerous harbour inlets. Over 80 lives have been reportedly lost near the harbour mouth over the years. Authorities have since decided to temporarily suspend the breakwater extension following expert advice that monsoon conditions could disrupt marine construction. However, the fabrication of tetrapods — concrete structures used to reinforce the breakwater—will continue at the site. To address the fishermen’s concerns, the harbour engineering department has sought the involvement of experts from the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRS) in Pune, the agency that prepared the project design. Technical teams from CWPRS are expected to visit Muthalapozhi for detailed consultations with the fishing community. Officials confirmed that breakwater extension work will resume only after the monsoon and after scientifically sound solutions are developed in consultation with fishermen. The fisheries department is also expected to hold further talks with the community later this week.Ends