News
Risks abound at Chinese-built Moratuwa-Modara fishery harbour
View(s):story and pix by Rekha Tharanganee Fonseka
The Moratuwa-Modera fishing harbour is in a state of neglect, causing misery to fishermen. It has become a death trap for them.
More than 200 families here depend on fishing for a living.
“I have been a fisherman for more than 25 years. We have cold rooms built by China, but we made use of them and provided ice only for three months. Now they have stopped functioning. The harbour that was developed after the tsunami, though still with insufficient facilities, is declared open by each minister on their arrival. We are charged Rs 1,750 monthly for the facilities, but the parties responsible for maintaining them do little or nothing to renovate them. Diesel tanks have been removed for six months. They are rusting. No diesel. Only kerosene oil is available. We have to hire three-wheelers to get diesel,’’ Ajith Shantha said.
Siridasa Muthuthanthiri said, “On the other side, sand mining is done. Sand is removed from places where we don’t want it. Then the surrounding area fills up with sand. Then we have to take our fishing boats ashore by pushing them. The bottoms of the boats get damaged when they rub against the sand. Responsible parties were informed, but it was all in vain. As a facility, we get only water.’’
Mahika Koddippili, manager of the fishing harbour, said: “Since the harbour was built, boats can’t come to the harbour. It has been built at the mouth of the estuary where the Bolgoda River is flowing. Though it was built by spending a lot of money, it is filled with sand, like in a basin.
“Though 100 cubes of sand are removed, it soon fills up. Fishermen say sand is not removed from where it is expected. Sand mining is done by a private company. It is only supervised by the ministry.
“Trawlers cannot reach the harbour, the entrance should be widened. There is a huge sand mine there. We informed the fisheries ministry. It is a massive, thick one. Though we tried with the help of an ocean ship used for removing sand at sea, it was not possible. It is just like concrete. If it is to be done, a ship removing sand at port has to be hired.’’
Prasanna Premawardena, deputy director of Fisheries, said: “Much responsibility is on the shoulders of the manager. Since the beginning, the cold rooms have not been functioning. I know the reason why, but it cannot be made public. There is a manager.
“Fisheries Minister Douglas Devananda visited the harbour a few times. He is now discussing its plans. Sand mining is done by the Harbour Engineering Corporation. When I visited the harbour, employees complained to me. So I informed higher officials. So far, I have not been told of any future improvements. I’m working in the Fisheries Department. I cannot interfere with the activities at the harbour.’’
The only fishing harbour in the Colombo District that was destroyed by the tsunami in 2004 was activated under the Harbour Aruna Programme with the aid of China and made available to fishers on September 19, 2007.
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