The Orissa government is considering a proposal to transfer the control of the Dhamara fishing harbour from the commerce department to Fisheries and Animal Resources Development (F&ARD) department.
The plan is being mooted for taking up modernisation of fishing harbour using the funds to be made available by the World Bank to the F&ARD department. This was discussed in a high level meeting today though no final decision could be taken there.
Sources said, the issue of handing over the Dhamara fishing harbour had featured in several other meetings in the past.
Though the F&ARD department wants to modernise the port, the security aspect was a concern. A section among the policy makers argued, the security issue can’t be adequately addressed if it is managed by the F&ARD department. Though attempts were made earlier to transfer the fishing harbour, it couldn’t happen due to the security concerns. The former Development Commissioner (DC) R N Bohidar had given a note directing not to effect such transfer as security issues were involved, sources added.
