The Kerala State Commission for Minorities has mandated the Chief Secretary to oversee urgent safety improvements at the Muthalapozhi breakwater,following a series of accidents that have raised serious concerns. The directive came during a session led by commission chairman A.A. Rasheed at the commission's headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram.
In light of troubling reports from 2024 about recurring incidents at Muthalapozhi,the commission acted on its own initiative,taking suo motu cognizance of the situation . Over the past two years,it has made repeated interventions,pushing for essential construction work, including sand dredging,to enhance safety at the site.
One significant outcome of the commission's efforts was securing funds from Adani Ports authorities aimed at deepening river mouth. This initiative was intended to mitigate the risk of accidents at Muthalapozhi. However, the commission expressed disappointment that,despite its ongoing involvement,the authorities have not made substantial progress in implementing safety measures.
The district administration and the Harbour Engineering department had previously assured commission that necessary dredging would be completed before the monsoon season. Yet,they failed to deliver, citing a malfunctioning dredger as the reason for the delay. This lack of action has been a point of contention for the commission.
The commission also criticized authorities for not fully disbursing the financial assistance allocated to families of fishermen who lost their lives in accidents at Muthalapozhi. It attributed this failure to a lack of coordination among various departments,which has hampered effective response efforts .
Despite obtaining administrative sanction for ₹177 crore from the Central government under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) for projects,including extending the breakwater,the commission noted that follow-up actions have been sluggish . The commission's frustration was evident as it highlighted the district administration's shortcomings in ensuring proper supervision of ongoing works.
As the situation stands, the Kerala State Commission for Minorities is pressing for immediate action to ensure the safety of the Muthalapozhi breakwater,emphasizing urgent need for improved coordination among the involved agencies.
