A project worth Rs 177 crore has been approved by the Centre in connection with the development of Muthalapozhi port, which has become the sorrow of Thiruvananthapuram district. The Muthalapozhi fishing harbour was born in its present form, four years ago. Since then, there has never been a day without accidents or troubles. One of the promises made by the Adani Group, which undertook the construction of Vizhinjam International Port, was to carry out the development of the Muthalapozhi fishing harbour along with Vizhinjam. It was also planned that the rock required for the construction of Groyne in Vizhinjam, known in Malayalam as Pulimuttu, would be brought to Muthalapozhi by ship and from there it would be transported by road. However, due to practical hurdles, the rock was brought from Tamil Nadu. The Muthalapozhi project was abandoned.

In the last few years, about 70 fishermen have lost their lives in boat accidents at Muthalapozhi. There have been multiple protests staged by fishermen's organisations and locals to protect the port in a risk-free manner. It was in this context that an official team led by George Kurien, a Malayalee and the new union minister of state for fisheries, visited Muthalapozhi and took stock of the situation. He was accompanied by former Union minister V Muraleedharan. The Centre's approval for the Rs 177-crore Muthalapozhi port development project indicates that the intervention of these leaders has paid off. With the final approval of the Centre, the project can go ahead with implementation. 60 per cent of the project cost is borne by the Centre and the rest by the state. The state government is also looking at the project with full consideration.

Muthalapozhi is often dangerous as it is the confluence of the Vamanapuram River and the Kadinamkulam Lake in the Arabian Sea. Due to strong currents and other obstacles, the sandbar at the sea mouth of Muthalapozhi is a curse for fishermen to carry their vessels to the sea and bring them back to shore. The rocks and sand dunes that have accumulated at the sandbar are a constant threat to the fishing vessels. The dredging at Muthalapozhi as part of the Vizhinjam deal has also to be done by the Adani company, but there is a huge neglect.

With the final approval of the Centre, the state government can invite tenders for various projects undertaken in connection with the development of Muthalapozhi Port. The study report conducted by the Central Water and Power Research Station in Pune has already been submitted to the state government. The state harbour engineering department had also prepared a detailed project report on this. It should be assumed that the centre's final approval will not be delayed any more. The state government should stand with the union minister for that.

There is a proposal to increase the length of the breakwater to the south by 425 meters as part of avoiding accidents in Muthalapozhi. The technology of sand bypassing should also be utilized. As part of the development of Muthalapozhi, a new wharf, auction hall, rest houses, water tanks, development of roads and parking lots, ensuring water and electricity availability will also be undertaken. The big task is to complete all these in a timely manner. There was a boat accident in Muthalapozhi two days ago. As a humanitarian issue, the project should be sanctioned as soon as possible and the construction should be completed. It should be remembered that time doesn't wait for anyone.