A strategic portion of a jetty in Odisha's largest fishing hub in the Paradip harbour has collapsed weeks after it faced the brunt of Cyclone Phailin, posing erosion threat to its vessel-berthing infrastructure.
The damaged structure, measuring 45 metres long, is located close to the confluence of the Mahanadi River and Bay of Bengal. The catch from the fishing vessels and crafts are unloaded at the jetty.
The cave-in of the jetty, which had already endured normal wear and tear, was hastened by Cyclone Phailin which struck the state recently.
"The fishing jetty, which was built in 1996 by the Paradip port management, had got considerably weakened recently when Cyclone Phailin struck the state. It had undergone the wear and tear process resulting in its sudden cave-in," Paradip marine fisheries officer Ranjit Kishore Dash said.
As the collapsed structure is a vital component of the harbour, the department has sought immediate fiscal assistance in rebuilding the structure, he said.
A team of technical experts from the state Marine Fisheries Department has assessed the damaged jetty and its findings have been submitted to the state government.
Preliminary estimate of the damage had been pegged at Rs 10 crore, Dash said.
