Karnataka Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar has ordered a report into disrupted trade and long-delayed dredging at Mangaluru’s fishing harbour after visiting the Bunder area early on Saturday and hearing complaints from fishermen about boat movement, berthing space and silt accumulation at the river mouth.
Shivakumar reached the harbour at around 6 am, when fishing boats were returning with fresh catches, traders were preparing for the day’s business and fish auctions were beginning. He was accompanied by Minister U.T. Khader, former mayor K. Ashraf, DCC president Padmaraj Poojary and other officials and leaders.
The Chief Minister objected after noticing that fish trade had apparently been stopped because of his arrival. “Trade should not be stopped under any circumstances,” he told officials, directing them to resume the activity immediately. He said the livelihoods of fishermen and traders should not be affected by an official visit.
Shivakumar later told the media that he had asked the Deputy Commissioner and the City Police Commissioner to submit a report on why harbour activities had come to a standstill. He said officials could face suspension if they were found responsible, and added that action would be taken if the stoppage was intended to conceal irregularities.
After trading resumed, the Chief Minister walked through the harbour, examined fish brought in by boats and watched an auction. He also spoke to fisherwomen, fishermen and others involved in the harbour’s daily operations. Small fishermen told him they were facing difficulties in finding space to berth their boats.
The main concern raised during the visit was silt accumulation at the river mouth where the Netravati and Phalguni rivers meet the Arabian Sea. Fishermen said the condition was affecting boat movement and required urgent dredging. They told the Chief Minister that dredging had not been carried out for roughly three decades, while Shivakumar later said he had been informed that silt had not been removed from the estuary mouth for about 35 years.
The harbour currently has docking facilities for around 200 boats, according to the report. Fishermen said additional docks could accommodate more boats, but that expansion would require dredging in the river stretches and at the estuary mouth. Officials also informed Shivakumar that sand had accumulated along the harbour bank and needed to be removed.
Among the suggestions discussed were the installation of channel-marking buoys to identify deeper sections and help boats navigate the harbour more safely. Other proposals included releasing dredged sand into the sea and widening the navigable area. A Central technical committee is expected to advise on the issue.
Shivakumar said he would decide whether the state should obtain a lease for dredging or purchase the machinery and boats required for the work. He also said the government had previously undertaken dredging directly, but that system no longer existed.
The Chief Minister boarded the fishing boat JN Kripa and travelled towards the river mouth, entering the sea before returning to the harbour. Fishermen and Minister Khader pointed out areas affected by silt during the trip, allowing the concerns raised at the wharf to be examined from the water.
Shivakumar also warned against illegal activity at the harbour, saying he had noticed roads being blocked and compounds allegedly constructed illegally. The next formal step is the submission of reports by the Deputy Commissioner and City Police Commissioner, along with technical advice on the proposed dredging options.
