Basudevpur: A fish packing hall, an important part of the Chudamani fishing jetty under Basudevpur block in Bhadrak district, has for long been lying unused for lack of repair and maintenance. Thousands of fishermen in the littoral pockets dependent on the fishing jetty are reportedly facing a lot of problems as the government has failed to make the hall fit for the fishermen’s use.
The fishermen said fish packing and exports are getting affected due to the dilapidated condition of the hall.
Thousands of fishermen living along the coast in Basudevpur are dependent upon fishing. Apart from their traditional occupation, several others are into fish export business. They have invested crores of rupees in mechanized boats, launches and trawlers.
Keeping in mind the interests of the fishermen, the marine fisheries department had built the fish packing hall near the jetty area about 15 years back.
“The hall is now lying in a dilapidated condition with huge cracks looking agape all over it. The department has not yet paid attention to the hall’s repair. It is of no use for us,” fishermen said.
At many places the floor has caved in with fishermen saying they cannot use the hall even to dry the bales of fish that they have caught.
The front and back of the hall are overrun with wild overgrowth, preventing proper access to the hall.
Significantly, there has been no approach road from the jetty to the fish packing hall. As a result, vehicles cannot reach the hall, fishermen said.
Fishermen and traders are unhappy over the alleged government apathy in taking any steps for repair and restoration of the fish packing hall.
President of the local trawler owners’ association, Anjan Mallick and secretary Sashikant Nayak said steps should be taken to make the hall usable so that thousands of fishermen can benefit. PNN