NMPA Addresses Breach in Northern Breakwater at Kulai Fishing Harbour

On July 3, the New Mangalore Port Authority (NMPA) held a press conference to address concerns regarding the breach in the northern breakwater under construction at Kulai Fishing Harbour in Mangaluru. Krishna Bapi Raju, Senior Deputy Secretary, explained that the project includes constructing two breakwaters: a nearly completed Southern breakwater and an unfinished Northern breakwater. The Northern breakwater has protection up to 300 meters, while the remaining 210 meters are still under construction. Recent rough seas have damaged the core layer, a situation anticipated as part of the ongoing work.

Raju noted that multiple agencies are involved in the project, including the Department of Fisheries, IIT Madras for design direction, and NITK Surathkal as the third-party inspecting agency. Once completed, the project will be handed over to the Karnataka Government’s Department of Fisheries.

Praveen Shenoy, Executive Engineer, clarified that the breakwater design was approved by the Port Authority and based on model studies by CWPRS and a detailed project report by CICEF. Due to the monsoon and rough seas, repairs will commence after the monsoon season. As this is an EPC contract, the contractor will bear the repair costs, though the total loss is yet to be estimated.

Regarding payment, Shenoy stated that only the protected portion of the northern breakwater (0 to 300 meters) has been paid for, with no payment made for the section beyond 300 meters still under construction.

The press conference included officials Krishna Bapi Raju, Praveen Shenoy, and others.