The Paradip fishing harbour. Telegraph picture

Paradip, Jan. 24: A fishing vessel today capsized in Paradip fishing harbour raising serious concerns on the safety issues of vessels and their crew.

However, the fishermen on board had a lucky escape and were rescued on time.

This is second incident of vessel capsizing reported from the state’s largest fishing hub.

Today’s mishap occurred as the fishing trawl was caught in underwater mound of si lt and mud. The trawl capsized after hitting the silt mound.

“Authorities are insensitive towards the plight of trawl operators and fishermen. Nothing has been done since the past decade to make the harbour conducive to fishing voyage. Vessel operators are forced to move during high tide to escape from getting hit from silt and mud,” said Sumanta Biswal, president of the Orissa Marine Fish Producers’ Association.

“Exercise to remove silt from the harbour would be undertaken. The marine fisheries department is being consulted for this purpose,” said secretary of the Paradip Port Trust, Pravat Kumar Nanda.

The depth of the harbour is gradually dipping. Massive silt deposit on the Mahanadi river mouth has exposed the trawls and fishing vessels to capsize threat. Periodic dredging operation, an exercise that is mandatory for such a busy harbour, is not undertaken, said a leader of the association.

“It was carved out as an all-weather fishing harbour. But it ceases to be so. But the vessel operators are subjected to the mercy of tidal waves. With consequent rise in river water level following ingress of tidal waters from sea, the vessels only make their movement from the unfriendly water channel of the fishing harbour,” added Biswal.

Everyday, about 700 deep-sea trawlers, besides over 2,000 medium capacity fishing vessels begin their seaward venture from this busy harbour. It’s widely regarded as the hub of marine fisheries related economy of both Jagatsinghpir and Kendrapara district.

The crux of the problem is that Paradip port trust continues to be the custodian of the harbour. Having little expertise to deal with fisheries related issues, the port authorities have failed to safeguard the interest of the harbour and fishermen community, charged trawl operators.