Land acquisition for marine park begins

Beypore, one of the prominent fish landing centres in Kozhikode district, will soon be home to a modern marine park, with the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Kinfra) kicking off measures for land acquisition for the project.

The Beypore marine park will come up at an estimated cost of Rs 10 crore. “Funds will be secured from the Centre’s ASIDE (Assistance to State for Infrastructure Development Export Allied Activities) scheme,” S Ramnath, managing director, Kinfra, told Business Standard.

While Kinfra will bear the cost of land, the remaining funding, up to an extent of 90 per cent of the project cost, will come from ASIDE.

Kinfra proposes to develop about 25 acres close to the Beypore fishing harbour for the project, which will have facilities such as marine products value-added production centre, fishing boat repairs and service, data and communication centre, training centre, creche and activity centres.

A pre-processing centre is also being planned that will be managed by the local fish peeling workers.

“At present the pre-processing is being done in unhygienic conditions. The survival of the marine industry would be at stake if the present situation is allowed to continue,” Ramnath added.

Kinfra, in association with the Marine Products Export and Development Authority (Mpeda) and the Fisheries Department, intends to develop the pre-processing centre to international standards.

The centre will have two peeling units employing 150 workers each. Effluent disposal arrangements will be provided apart from facilities such as an ice-crushing room, rest room, trolleys, and a chill room.

Besides, it would have modern boat yard for boat repair and boat building.