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Construction of a slipway at the third stage of the Malpe fisheries harbour has got stalled due to the delay in approval of design for the sloping yard.

Except for the slipway, the rest of the facilities such as a diaphragm wall, a rest-shed for fishermen, a boat repair shop, and a restaurant, have been constructed on the 10 acres at Baputhota in Malpe.

The third stage of works, expected to cost Rs. 42 crore, have since been revised to Rs. 49 crore. The Union government will bear 75 per cent of the cost and the rest by the State government. However, the slipway work costing Rs. 87 lakh has held back the completion of the third stage.

Originally a manual slipway was proposed here. But the fishermen demanded a manual-cum-mechanical slipway to haul up their boats for repair. This has delayed the work entrusted to Yojaka (India) Pvt. Ltd.

Even here, some work of the slipway such as repair bays, laying of tracks, and putting the trolleys on tracks had been completed. Six repair bays which can berth about 14 big boats and about 18 small boats too have been constructed. But the modified design for the sloping yard at the slipway is awaiting the approval of the Chief Engineer of the Department of Ports and Fisheries.

“Once we are given the approved design, we will complete the work on the sloping yard in three months,” said project engineer Manas Kumar.

Nearly 1,400 mechanised boats get berthed at the first and second stages of Malpe fisheries harbour. Since boats from neighbouring districts also come here, the space is inadequate. Hence, the government gave the nod for the third stage to ease the congestion. The third stage is now providing berthing facility to about 500 boats.

Hiriyanna Kidiyoor, president of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association, said that a slipway was essential for the annual maintenance and repairs of the boats. “Boats suffer damage when they go for fishing and painting of boats also has to be done annually,” he said.

T.S. Rathod, Executive Engineer, Department of Ports and Fisheries, said that the office of the Chief Engineer had sought some clarifications about the modified design of the sloping yard, which would be provided to it. “The approval for the design is expected in three weeks and thereafter the work will start,” he said.