ADB funds USD 10 m for fishery harbours

by Shirajiv Sirimane

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) would be funding several fisheries harbour projects of USD 10 million to assist the fisher community.

Construction of some of the projects has already commenced and all other projects are to be completed next year.

According to Project Director, Coastal Resource Management Program (CRMP) H. N. R. Perera one of the first projects to be initiated is the fisheries harbour in Ambalangoda behind the Rest House. The ADB has allocated USD 3.7 million for this.

The project would include the construction of a breakwater, constructing an ice plant, building a net mending shed and a hall.

In addition infrastructure development such as roads would also be included for the project. "The fisheries community in the area are facing tremendous hardships after the tsunami and this harbour would be most welcomed," he said.

The next project to be undertaken would be the construction of a Fisheries harbor in Chilaw.

This USD 2.2 million project would commence end of the year. All facilities provided to the Ambalangoda would also be available at Chilaw.

Construction of both the projects would be coordinated by the CRMP and tenders have been already called.

In addition dredging of the tsunami affected Negombo harbour would also be done this year. The Negombo lagoon area, which is badly polluted to, would be developed. "This area is a major tourist attraction and has been ignored due to pollution," he said.

The allocation for these two project is US $ 2.5 million and the project includes building new toilets introducing sewerage facilities and other infrastructure development.

The Lunawa lagoon also would be re-developed under ADB funds.

The fisher folks are being exploited by the merchants and this is mainly because they cannot sell direct to the end. It is the middleman who makes the highest profit in the fisheries industry.

With the creation of new fisheries harbours and the renovation and re development of the existing harbours customers would go direct to these harbours thereby opening up a new market for fisherman.

Perera said that the CRMP is also in the process of initiation a project to convert sea sand for the construction industry.

'There is a growing pressure from the construction industry to get this project off the ground soon to meet the demand,' he said.