Silted Bahabalpur fishing jetty hits fishermen hard

Baleshwar: Bahabalpur fishing jetty in Baleshwar Sadar block, a vital hub supporting more than 20,000 fishermen and fish traders, is facing neglect as heavy siltation at the river mouth has severely disrupted fishing activities. The fishing centre caters to fishermen and traders from several parts of the district.

Hundreds of boats, trawlers and launches operate from the centre, with fishing communities depending on the facility for their livelihoods. However, the river mouth is gradually getting shallower by the day due to sand deposits for several years. The recent floods have worsened the situation. The accumulation of sand has made it difficult for fishing vessels to move between the fishing centre and the sea. Hundreds of boats, trawlers and launches have reportedly been forced to remain anchored near the river mouth for prolonged periods. Boat and trawler owners are suffering financial losses as they are unable to operate normally. Fishermen returning from the sea are also facing difficulties in reaching the river mouth safely, raising concerns over the safety of both crews and vessels.

The issue had earlier been brought to the attention of senior government representatives. During the Gangamata Puja festival organised at Bahabalpur in January this year on the occasion of Makar Parba, state Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Minister Gokulananda Mallik along with an MP and an MLA attended the event. The Bahabalpur Fishermen and Fish Traders’ Association submitted a memorandum seeking dredging of the river mouth, construction of a stone embankment and a permanent road from Solapata to the Bahabalpur river mouth. The representatives had reportedly assured the association that steps would be taken to address the problems. However, no significant action has been taken so far, fishermen said.

With the river mouth continuing to accumulate silt, the livelihoods of more than 20,000 fishermen and fish traders are increasingly under threat. Association president Bikash Das, secretary Gorachand Jena and vice-president and sarpanch Prabir Kumar Sahu, along with other members, have urged the authorities to undertake immediate restoration of the river from the jetty to the sea mouth and construct the proposed road on a war footing. They warned that continued inaction could further deepen the crisis faced by the fishing community.