Paradip, Jan. 7: Fishing activities at the harbour here was disrupted today as stakeholders, traditional marine fishermen and vessel operators staged a protest against government neglect towards the sea-fishing sector.

Though the fishing hub is providing jobs to over 50,000 families, a move to upgrade the harbour to international standards has failed make headway.

The stakeholders' interest is not being protected by the government agencies, said Amarjit Jena, working president of the Paradip Marine Primary Fish Production and Marketing Society.

A harbour management committee has been formed for the effecting administration of the fishing hub.

However, the committee meeting has been convened only once in the past three years.

The rules framed for the harbour management make it binding for at least one sitting in every six months, Jena said.

'Our society is empanelled as a member of the harbour management committee. We had sought approval for a diesel-filling station at the harbour for meeting with requirements of the sea-bound trawls. The Indian Oil Company has accorded sanction to our proposal. But, the panel is yet to ratify the proposal. As a result, trawler operators are put to great hardship,' said co-operative society president Subodh Kumar Biswal.

The stakeholders affected the daily fish landing and trading operation following the agitation. Their grievances are being addressed on a priority basis, said district fisheries officer Gyan Ranjan Samal.

The demand for a diesel-filling station will be fulfilled once it is approved in the governing body meeting of the panel. The meeting will be convened shortly to look into various problems.

Infrastructure development works such as effluent treatment plant, drinking water supply system and independent power supply network are yet to be taken up. Incomplete state of these projects has definitely affected the effective functioning of the harbour.

The department has resolved to execute the incomplete infrastructure project within next six months.

'We have prioritised the work to revamp the harbour to meet with the European Union's hygiene and sanitation specifications on export of marine produces,' he said.