Karwar: Negligence on the part of the state government in providing basic infrastructure at fishing ports has put the lives of thousands of fishermen in danger in Uttara Kannada district.

Many ports have accumulated huge quantify of mud and desilting has not been taken up for many years. As a result, boats are getting stuck in the silt and sinking.

The district has a coastal line of 140 km spread in five taluks and people of these taluks are mainly depended on fishing. There are many fishing ports, which are not properly maintained by the Fisheries Department.

Every month one or more boat tragedies are taking place and the reason for the same is said to be silt accumulation.

Despite many requests by the fishermen association to take up desilting, the government has not done anything so far.

There are eight fishing ports in the district- Karwar, Mudaga, Belekeri, Tadadi, Honnavar, Kasarkod, Bunder Bhatkal, Tengingundi and Alvekodi in Bhatkal. Except Karwar port, others are on the river mouth (estuary) and silt problem is common in these ports. Dredging has not taken up for many decades.

Whenever a boat began to sink in the sea, fishermen in the sinking boat inform other fishermen, who rush to the spot to rescue them. In very few cases, the coastal security police and the Indian Coast Guard personnel reach the spot for rescue operation.

Honnavar-Kasarkod port is worst affected as Sharavati river changes its direction in every monsoon season. If fishermen tried to go in last year route, his boat might get struck at silt, and causes damage to boats, fishermen here are more worried about the silt and they have been demanding for dredging, but there is not response to their voice.

Owner of a Persian boat said: “We do invest nearly Rs 1 core to buy a boat and spend thousands of rupees everyday to maintain it. If the boats sinks, we suffer loss of lives of fishermen as well as boat worth crores of rupees. No government authorities will take the responsibility of the tragedy.

It is government duty of dredging, for their negligence we do loss lives and money.”

Mohan Bolashittekar, fishermen leader, said there is silt at all the ports in the district and dredging has not been taken up. It is a total negligence on the part of the Fisheries Department and the state government. If they take up dredging work, boats can easily more in the estuaries and if will be a great help to the fishermen.