A portion of the collapsed jetty in Paradip. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Nov. 17: A strategic portion of the fish-landing jetty at Paradip fishing harbour, the state’s largest fishing hub, collapsed last night exposing the harbour to sea erosion.

The damaged 45-metre structure is located close to the confluence of the Mahanadi and the Bay of Bengal. Fishing vessels unloaded their catch there.

The damaged structure used to be constantly battered by the sea and the river. Officials said the safety of the harbour was at stake following the damage to the structure.

“The jetty, which was built in 1996 by the Paradip port, was considerably enfeebled following Phailin,” said Paradip marine fisheries officer Ranjit Kishore Dash.

He said that since the collapsed structure was a vital component of the harbour, the department had sought immediate monetary assistance for rebuilding it.

A team of technical experts from state marine fisheries department has assessed the damage and their findings have been submitted to the state government. Preliminary estimates of the damage are being pegged at Rs 10 crore.

“The absence of periodic maintenance has resulted in the cave-in. It was in bad shape. Stakeholders had raised the issue of its repair and maintenance on several occasions, but nothing had happened,” said Sumant Biswal of the Odisha Trawl Operators’ Association.

“We have drawn the attention of National Fisheries Development Board for expeditious release of grants for the rebuilding of the jetty. We do not have faith in the state government agencies. They neither have the financial resources nor the sincerity to renovate the fishing harbour,” Biswal said.

The measures to refurbish the fishing harbour are making tardy progress.

With a sizeable chunk of funds sanctioned by the Union agriculture ministry remaining unspent, the fishing hub is yet to get the much-needed facelift.