Uran— The Karanja Fishing Port, built with an investment of ₹256 crore and once hailed as a lifeline for thousands of coastal fishermen, is now struggling to stay afloat—quite literally. Massive silt accumulation has turned the bustling port into a bottleneck, stranding over 350 fishing boats and delaying operations by hours.
At low tide, boats are unable to dock or exit efficiently, forcing fishermen to wait up to four hours just to complete basic tasks. The impact is severe, with delays leading to financial losses and potential damage to the quality of fish exports—valued at ₹500 crore annually from this port alone.
“This port was meant to empower us, but now we’re stuck—literally and financially,” said Pradeep Nakhwa, President of the Karanja Fishing Society. He confirmed that repeated appeals have been made to the port and fisheries departments, seeking urgent dredging operations.
Ramesh Nakhwa, Director of the West Coast Purse Seine Net Fishermen Welfare Association, warned that without immediate intervention, the port risks becoming obsolete. “A fishing port must run round-the-clock. If this continues, it’ll be like having a port only in name,” he said.
Beyond the silt, structural issues are also compounding the crisis. The port’s elevation is reportedly two feet too low for safe navigation during high tide, leading to frequent boat collisions with the harbor walls.
Local leaders and fishing associations are urging the government to act swiftly before the situation worsens further. For the thousands of fishermen whose livelihoods depend on the sea, time—and tide—are running out.
