Two decades since efforts began to salvage the iconic Chinese fishing nets that withstood the elements and the test of time, Kerala Tourism’s ₹2.44-crore project to conserve the remaining dozen of nets, has reached nowhere.
About 35 of the unique, cantilever nets adorned the waterfront till two decades ago. A host of issues, including the probability of constant dredging of the shipping channel, and the inability of the net operators to procure lengthy forest-teak logs that supported the nets, resulted in their number dwindling to a meagre one-third.
“One procedural issue or the other crops up when efforts are made to clear bills and to take the conservation project ahead, the latest being a “spelling mistake” in the PAN card of a net owner,” said Vincent, who has been operating ‘Paalam Vala’ that is located on the southern end of the row of nets. He spent ₹4 lakh to do preparatory works to conserve his net, while many others shelled out lesser amounts, on the assurance that Kerala Tourism and the project’s implementing agency KITCO would compensate them from the ₹2.44 crore that was allotted for the purpose.
