Paradip, Dec. 19: Waking up to the threat of sea erosion, the state government has drawn up a massive project worth Rs 3.25 crore to save the highly threatened fish-landing jetty.

The strategic portion of the jetty at the confluence of the Bay of Bengal and Mahanadi river had been damaged twice recently. It collapsed during cyclone Phailin. The structure caved in again on 7 August, 2014, posing serious erosion threat at the Paradip fisheries harbour.

'Central Water and Power Research Station, Pune is providing technical expertise towards the project. The Odisha government had already invited tender bidding process and the project is expected to start by next month. The rebuilding of the jetty requires a high degree of technical expertise because of its proximity to the turbulent seawaters. Since the jetty is on the confluence of the sea and river, the velocity of current is very much pronounced here. That is why the services of the power research station were sought as it has an excellent track record in highly skilled dock and harbour construction,' executive engineer of the fisheries engineering division, Nalinikanta Padhee said.

A committee of the state government submitted a proposal to the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development for funding the project. However, it was mooted. Later, the government also requested the Centre for the release of grants under Rural Infrastructure Development Funds scheme. But, the requests did not elicit any positive response. Now, the government is left with no other options and will be spending Rs 3.25 crore from the state funds for the renovation of the fish-landing jetty, official sources said.

In spite of the fact that the jetty collapsed more than a year back, the state government agencies failed to act on time in preventing further damage.

The non-repair of the damaged jetty endangered the adjoining fishing harbour. The damaged structure is 50 metres long and the catch from the fishing vessels are unloaded here.

'The caved structure of the jetty is constantly battered by sea and river waves and this exposes the harbour to erosion,' said the president of Paradip Trawler Owners Association, Sumant Kumar Biswal.

'The jetty was providing protection to the harbour area. With its collapse, the fish auction hall is left endangered. The damage caused to the fish-landing jetty has opened the floodgates of sea erosion. The jetty needs to be refurbished soon to protect the harbour,' said Narayan Haldar, an official of the Marine Fishermen's Association.

Multiplicity of factors delayed the refurbishing of the fish-landing jetty.