THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The government is all set to start the construction of a fishing harbor at Pozhiyoor after the first ship arrives at Vizhinjam in September. The action was taken after the harbor engineering department prepared the outline after codifying the tests and expert opinions. The wave study, topographic survey, beach cross-section, shoreline survey, and year-long data collection of pre-monsoon, post-monsoon, and monsoon waves before the construction of the port have been completed. After getting the clearance for the environmental impact study, the detailed project report of the port will be prepared and the tender process will be entered into. The government has decided to complete the process without any delay and start construction of the port as soon as possible. In Paruthiyoor Pozhiyoor areas selected for port construction, there is existing outlying land, which will speed up the follow-up process without the need for land acquisition. The deeper sea in the Paruthiyoor area is also a factor in reducing construction costs. Because of the absence of a port, fishermen in the area have to go to different parts of the state to get work.
Will be a helping hand to fishermen
Due to the lack of a port, only small boats reach Pozhiyoor now. Workers have to travel long distances to work and have to auction fish for whatever price they get. The port becoming a reality will pave the way for the storage and marketing of fish on a large scale. The development will take place in Pozhiyoor and nearby areas like Poovar and Atimalathura. As they do not have their own port and have to depend on other ports, they were also unable to avail the benefits from Matsyafed. These issues will be resolved with the arrival of the port.
Construction activities will be implemented in such a way that there is no environmental impact on the sea. The harbor is being constructed avoiding the sandbar between the backwater and the sea at Pozhiyoor. Both embankments will be constructed. The port will also have basic facilities like an auction house, internal roads, compound walls, a loading area, and a locker room.