CM DK Shivakumar at the Harbor— By Arrangement

MANGALURU: Many in Mangaluru were still rubbing sleep from their eyes when Chief Minister DK Shivakumar was already at a place where the city had been wide awake for hours — the fishing harbour, or Bunder, as it is popularly known.

At around 6 am on Saturday, the harbour was already in full swing- as always. Fishing boats were returning from the sea with varieties of fresh catches, fishermen were unloading their haul, traders were preparing for the day's business and fish auctions were getting underway.

It is a side of Mangaluru that many city residents rarely see. Shivakumar decided to see this world first-hand.

Accompanied by Minister UT Khader, former mayor K Ashraf, DCC president Padmaraj Poojary and others, the Chief Minister spent nearly two hours at the harbour, walking around, observing the activities and speaking to the people whose lives revolve around the sea.

On his arrival, Shivakumar noticed that the day's fish trade had been stopped apparently because of his visit and quickly took exception to it.

"Trade should not be stopped under any circumstances. I have come here to see the activity and found that it has been stopped because of my arrival. It should not affect the livelihood of fishermen and traders. Start the trade immediately," he told the officials.

Later, speaking to the media, he said he had directed the Deputy Commissioner and the City Police Commissioner to submit a report on why harbour activities had come to a standstill during his visit.

"If officials are responsible, I have asked them to be placed under suspension. If this was done to conceal irregularities, I will take appropriate action," he said, adding that he did not need security and had come to understand the ground realities of fishermen and traders.

Once the harbour was back to its usual rhythm, the Chief Minister started interacting with the people.

He examined several varieties of fish that had arrived fresh from the boats, even holding some of them in his hands as Khader explained the local varieties to him. Clams caught his attention.

Khader explained the variety to him and also told him how it is cooked. Shivakumar listened keenly to the details, showing an interest in the catch and the work behind what eventually reaches the city's fish markets.

He also watched the fish auction, one of the harbour's familiar early-morning rituals but a process largely unseen by people outside the fishing community.

People around the harbour took out their phones to click photographs with the Chief Minister.
Shivakumar also spoke to fisherwomen, fishermen and others involved in the harbour's activities, hearing about their problems and suggestions. Small fishermen also brought up difficulties they face in finding space to berth their boats.

The more pressing issue raised before him was the accumulation of silt at the river mouth, where the Netravati and Phalguni rivers meet the Arabian Sea.

Fishermen told him that the problem was affecting the movement of boats and that dredging was urgently required. They said docking facilities were currently available for around 200 boats and suggested that new docks could accommodate more boats.

But that would require dredging, they said, pointing out that dredging had not been carried out for about three decades and that both the river stretches and the estuary mouth needed attention.
Officials also told the Chief Minister that sand had accumulated along the harbour bank and needed to be removed. They suggested installing channel-marking buoys to identify deeper portions and help boats navigate the area more smoothly.

Shivakumar did not stop at hearing about the problem from the shore.

He boarded the fishing boat JN Kripa, accompanied by leaders, officials and media persons, and set off from the wharf. The boat moved towards the river mouth, entered the sea and returned to the harbour.

As the boat moved through the waters, Khader and the fishermen continued explaining the problem, pointing out the areas affected by silt and the difficulties faced by fishing boats.

The Chief Minister later said he had been told that silt had not been removed from the estuary mouth for about 35 years and that the issue had become a safety concern.

He said different suggestions had been made, including releasing the dredged sand into the sea and widening the area, while a Central technical committee was expected to advise on the matter.

"I will decide whether a lease should be obtained for the dredging process or whether machinery and boats should be purchased to remove the silt. Earlier, there was a system under which the government itself undertook dredging. That system does not exist now," he said.

The Chief Minister also warned against illegal activity at the harbour, saying he had noticed roads being blocked and compounds allegedly put up illegally.

People from different parts of the country come to the harbour for trade and business, he said, and they should have proper infrastructure and smooth vehicular access.

"Even if those violating the law are big or influential people, action should be taken without any hesitation. If it is private property, we will examine the documents and take it over for the government. We will undertake development," he said.

After nearly two hours at the harbour, Shivakumar headed to the famous Hotel Taj Mahal.
He tasted khali dosa, Mangaluru buns, Kashi halwa and the hotel's special halwa.

The Chief Minister paid the bill and took a keen look at the scan-and-pay facility.

The hotel employees meanwhile requested a photograph with him. Shivakumar obliged before leaving.

He later reached the Maryhill helipad and took the chopper to Thirthahalli.


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