M’luru: Boats in peril from remnants of abandoned boats at busy Alivebagilu

Mangaluru: The remnants of sunken and abandoned boats at the estuary at Alivebagilu here are posing danger to hundreds of boats that traverse these waters.

Several boats have been submerged in the estuary area where the Phalguni river joins the Arabian Sea in the past. For various reasons, the dregs of these boats have not been cleared yet and are now hindering the smooth and safe movement of boats.

The fishing boats and passenger boats from Kasba Bengre, Old Bunder areas, that regularly use this estuary to reach the ocean every day, carefully avoid the region where remnants are visible. However, during the darkness of the night, the boat drivers find it difficult to navigate the waters. Boat drivers have to be doubly cautious to avoid hitting these remnants. In such a situation, these sunken boats are a disaster waiting to happen, boat owners said.

The problem is compounded when the abandoned boats fully submerge in water. It is difficult to know where the boat has sunk, and the chances of hitting the remnants increase manifold, they said.

As per rules, it is the responsibility of the owners of the boat to dismantle and clear the debris. The boats are usually insured for purposes of repair and dismantling. But, many a time, the process is delayed due to the differences between the insurer and the owner, and the boats are left to rot. Without getting the insurance money, the boat owners are unable to salvage the boat, they alleged.

It is high time to take action before a disaster strikes. The fisheries department and the district administration should take serious note of the danger posed by the debris from abandoned boats, the fishermen said.