Kanniyakumari District Collector R. Alagumeena and Commissioner for Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare R. Gajalakshmi, who inspected the ongoing development works in the coastal hamlets and the fishing harbours, have instructed the fisheries department officials to ensure the creation of bio-toilets in all the mechanised boats involved in multi-day deep sea stay fishing.
The officials inspected Chinna Muttom, Azhikkaal, Irayumanthurai and Thaengaaipattinam fishing harbours and the breakwater construction on Thursday.
Since the construction of breakwater and fishing harbour development works are going on in the district, Ms. Alagumeena and Ms. Gajalakshimi inspected these works. At Chinna Muttom fishing harbour, where the mechanised boat fishermen should return to the base by 9 p.m. after leaving the fishing harbour by 5 a.m. everyday for fishing, Ms. Gajalakshmi inquired the officials about the compliance of this regulation.
She also met the Chinna Muttom mechanised boat fishermen to understand the problems they were facing in fishing and auctioning the catches. Maintenance of fishing harbour and development works to be taken-up in the fishing harbour to make fishing operations more effective were also discussed.
After inspecting Azhikkaal and Pillaithoppu beaches, she asked the officials to prepare project proposals for constructing breakwater.
At Thaengaaipattinam and Irayumanthurai, Ms. Gajalakshmi and Ms. Alagumeena inspected the breakwater construction and the newly formed cement road along the coast for the benefit of the fishermen having their houses close to the shoreline. Ms. Gajalakshmi asked the officials to complete the fishing harbour expansion works before December 2025 and instructed the fishermen to create bio-toilets in the mechanised boats involved in multi-day deep sea stay fishing.
“Since the fishermen of these boats face the threat of falling into the sea while answering nature’s call, bio-toilets should be created in these boats,” said Ms. Gajalakshmi, who asked the officials to inspect all the boats for compliance. Additional Director of Fisheries Arumugam was present.