Fishermen demand urgent action at Muthalapozhi

The fishermen who enterprise out into the ocean via what is taken into account probably the most harmful route in Thiruvananthapuram – Muthalapozhi – are sad regardless of the Centre’s approval for a Rs 177 crore Muthalapozhi Harbour modernisation proposal.

They are saying that common dredging of sand from the mouth of the harbour and development of a seawall is important, if frequent accidents are to be prevented.

Muthalapozhi has claimed the lives of not less than 66 fishermen between 2011 and 2023, with 4 deaths reported in 2024. The accidents happen when boats hit the sand deposit as they cross the place the place the river joins the ocean.

The group claims that the unscientific development of the breakwaters and barge at Muthalapozhi, that have been designed to facilitate transportation of boulders for the breakwater development at Vizhinjam Port have modified the course of the ocean on this space, making it unpredictable and shallow.