Malpe port -a haven for thieves!
From our Udupi office
UDUPI : The Malpe port which is in the forefront among all other ports of the state as far as fishing is concerned, however lags behind others on another account -that of security. This port has been a witness to several fire mishaps which have claimed hundreds of boats worth lakhs of rupees in the past, thereby striking a severe blow to the lives of the poor fishermen. Still the government until now has not thought it fit to have a sub-fire service station here, at least in the interests of the fishermen community.
The spree of thefts in the port had begun three years ago with the missing of a tempo parked inside the port ; then there were serial thefts in the nearby petty shops and recently a computer and cash has also been stolen from a private office inside the port precincts .
Over a thouand small country boats and also an equal number of mechanised boats harbour in the port and the theft of nets, diesel and other equipment from these boats has become very much common. Even the space allocated for a police outpost here has not yet been occupied, thanks to the apathy of the government.
Today, people who are depending on this port to earn a livelihood have placed forth their list of demands. They want compulsory identity cards to the port workers and for all those having dealings with the port ; restriction on entry to the port after a particular time limit, prohibiting strangers from sleeping inside the port, appointment of at least four guards to oversee the security of the port and to step up police patrolling operations in the area. Providing ample security to this important port is not impossible if the fishermen and all traders and others organisations concerned make a united demand to the minister. Even the port authorities must give a serious thought to this problem and try to redress the same at the earliest.
UDUPI : The Malpe port which is in the forefront among all other ports of the state as far as fishing is concerned, however lags behind others on another account -that of security. This port has been a witness to several fire mishaps which have claimed hundreds of boats worth lakhs of rupees in the past, thereby striking a severe blow to the lives of the poor fishermen. Still the government until now has not thought it fit to have a sub-fire service station here, at least in the interests of the fishermen community.
The spree of thefts in the port had begun three years ago with the missing of a tempo parked inside the port ; then there were serial thefts in the nearby petty shops and recently a computer and cash has also been stolen from a private office inside the port precincts .
Over a thouand small country boats and also an equal number of mechanised boats harbour in the port and the theft of nets, diesel and other equipment from these boats has become very much common. Even the space allocated for a police outpost here has not yet been occupied, thanks to the apathy of the government.
Today, people who are depending on this port to earn a livelihood have placed forth their list of demands. They want compulsory identity cards to the port workers and for all those having dealings with the port ; restriction on entry to the port after a particular time limit, prohibiting strangers from sleeping inside the port, appointment of at least four guards to oversee the security of the port and to step up police patrolling operations in the area. Providing ample security to this important port is not impossible if the fishermen and all traders and others organisations concerned make a united demand to the minister. Even the port authorities must give a serious thought to this problem and try to redress the same at the earliest.
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