The state government has decided to convert Muthalappozhy fishing harbour into a fishermen-friendly zone by launching a series of works. The decision was taken following a meeting convened by fisheries minister J Mercykutty Amma in the secretariat on Saturday. The minister has said that the government would be launching both long-term and short-term projects to prevent mishaps, which are frequent in the harbour ever since the construction of a breakwater here as part of the harbour. The government had commenced the works of the harbour based on a study by Chennai IIT. But they found out that there were drawbacks in the construction. Another study was conducted in 2013 and remaining works were done based on that study report. The frequent mishaps involving fishing boats here suggest that the harbour is far from safe for the fishermen here. One of the long-term projects planned by the government is to invite global tender for a total revamp of the harbour. Another project planned is to make use of the dredgers of Maritime Corporation and Dredging Corporation to carry out dredging at Muthalappozhy as well as other fishing harbours in the state. Talks in connection with both these plans have already been commenced with officials concerned. In the meantime, the existing contractor has been assigned to remove the silt and rocks from the breakwater region, where the sea and lake meets, as a short-term solution. Numerous fishing boats had met with mishaps leading to drowning of fishermen at the breakwater region of the harbour ever since its construction.