Govt identifies 24 acres for Arjipalli fishing harbour

Berhampur: The state government has identified more than 23.39 acres for the fishing harbor at ArjiIpalli close to the Bay of Bengal in Ganjam district. As the land identified is forest land, the fisheries department has applied to the forest department for diversion and compensatory afforestation, said Rajendra Pratap Swain, fisheries and animal resources minister in the assembly on Thursday.

Replying to a question of MLA (Chhatarpur) Subash Behera, the minister said a detailed project report (DPR) was being readied following an engineering survey carried out by the Central Institute of Coastal Engineering and Fishery (CICEF), Bangalore.

The project is likely to start after the Central Water and Power Research Station (CWPRC), Pune conducts a model study and environment clearance and administrative approval is obtained from the Centre, the minister replied. The government has identified another 46 acres in Surada tehsil in Ganjam district for compensatory afforestation. Establishment of a fishing harbor at Arjiplli has been a long- standing demand of the fishermen. The project is estimated to cost around Rs 500 crore. The harbor with all modern facilities can anchor around 1,400 fishing boats and benefit around 50,000 traditional fisher- men of more than 10 coastal villages. The project will not only benefit the fishing community but will also be a boost to the district's economy, said Behera.