Unceasing Woes of Muthalapozhi fishermen
Infamously dubbed Kerala’s “mouth of death”, In recent years, Muthalapozhi has frequently made headlines due to a series of tragic incidents. Over 70 fishermen have lost their lives at this site. In 2024 alone, more than a dozen fishing boats capsized at the point where the river meets the sea, emphasizing the perilous conditions faced by the local fishing community.
A visit to Muthalapozhi last year
Last July, en route to Varkala Beach, I took a detour to visit Muthalapozhi, located about 20 kilometers away. The journey was captivating—traveling along a road flanked by the sea and beaches on one side and the river on the other. Enjoying the breathtaking views, I eagerly anticipated witnessing the site of the ongoing conflict.
As we approached Muthalapozhi, the sea appeared alarmingly close to the houses on the shore. The air thick with salt, and in front of small homes, salted fish laid out to dry for sale. A beautiful Mother Mary Church stood out as a landmark, and locals were busy preparing for its festival. Yet, there were no visible signs indicating the Muthalapozhi portrayed in the news.
Finally, we beheld the encompassing beauty of the area—known for both its allure and its tragedies, reminiscent of Helen of Troy. The Muthalapozhi harbor, the fish market, and the scenic views from the Muthalapozhi-Perumathura bridge—where the freshwater of the Vamanapuram River meets the salty waters of the Arabian Sea—all unfolded before us.
A port, harbor, breakwater, bridge, fish market, estuary, coconut grove, river, sea, and beach—all converged in one location. Few places in the world can boast such a confluence of natural and manmade elements in a single frame. Muthalapozhi, situated in Perumathura village, now attracts hundreds of tourists drawn by its vibrant beauty.
Notably, the controversial parallel breakwaters—constructed across the estuary and perpendicular to the sea—stood out. We walked to the endpoint of the 420-meter-long northern breakwater, while the southern breakwater stretches 480 meters. To the east of the southern breakwater, construction work was visible in the distance. Fishing boats occasionally zoomed past, heading out to sea or returning, with no visible signs of tension.
On the beach, a coconut grove provided shade for children playing football and a few tourists savoring the natural beauty. I wondered: where was the conflict? Where were all the tragic incidents?
What is behind the controversial news story about Muthalapozhi
Upon returning home, I conducted further research. Videos of mishaps surfaced, shedding light on the dangers faced by the fishing community.
Kerala has 41 west-flowing rivers and 3 east-flowing rivers. The confluence of these west-flowing rivers with the Arabian Sea forms 23 estuaries—Muthalapozhi being one of them. It is also one of the leading fish-landing areas in South Kerala. Supporting the livelihoods of many fishermen from Veli to Edava.
Muthalapozhi is often in the news due to unsafe fishing ventures, boat capsizing incidents, and continuous protests over the failure to dredge the harbor as scheduled. Fishermen allege that the government has not fulfilled its promises to ensure safety.
The bottleneck at the harbor—allegedly caused by unscientific construction of the breakwaters—has been identified by fishermen as the primary cause of the accidents. This flawed construction has led to turbulent waters at the harbor mouth, making navigation perilous.
Why Breakwaters Built at Muthalapozhi?
The breakwater at Muthalapozhi primarily constructed to support fishermen and control coastal erosion. It is a wall-like structure made of rocks and tetrapods, built to make the inlet perennial and facilitate safe navigation, especially during monsoon seasons. However, the project has faced serious execution and safety issues.
1. Facilitate Safe Navigation and Harboring
Before construction, the estuary was treacherous due to strong currents, shifting sandbars, and rough seas. The breakwater aimed to:
- Stabilize the estuary mouth and prevent its shifting.
- Create a calm, navigable channel.
- Enable the development of a harbor supporting local economic activity.
2. Prevent Coastal Erosion
The breakwater initially intended to reduce wave energy reaching the shore, protecting nearby land.
3. Support Economic Development
The project sought to:
- Provide better fish landing and storage facilities.
- Enhance infrastructure for the fishing industry.
Controversy and Consequences
Despite intended benefits, the breakwater faced criticism due to:
- Frequent accidents and fatalities linked to poor design.
- Improper sediment management leading to siltation.
- There are Claims that the design did not adequately consider natural tidal and wave patterns, leading to unpredictable currents.
A 2015 study in the International Journal of Engineering Research & Technology, titled “Hydrodynamic Investigations on the Shoreline Changes Due to Construction of Breakwaters at the Muthalapozhi Inlet of Kerala Coast”, stated that initial breakwater lengths led to heavy siltation and choking of the entrance. This prompted re-engineering studies, which recommended extending the structures.
The report concluded:
“The breakwaters were found to be effective in training the river mouth and trapping littoral sediments… But the tendency of bypassing sand over a period of 15–20 years is a concern… Long-term solutions are cost-intensive and require extensive studies.”
The Adani Connection
In 2016, for Vizhinjam Port’s 2,950-meter-long breakwater, 7 million tonnes of granite were deposited into the sea. Due to a shortage of rocks, Adani Ports sourced materials from quarries in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, requiring a temporary barge loadout facility and transit stockyard at Muthalapozhi harbor. Vizhinjam Port is 39 km away from muthalapozhi.
As part of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) it signed with Kerala’s harbour engineering department in 2018 Adani was obliged to clear the accumulated sand. The agreement primarily granted Adani Ports permission to dismantle the northern portion of the southern breakwater of Muthalapozhi harbour to construct a loadout facility.
This facility was intended to store the rocks that the company transported in barges from various places in Kerala and Tamil Nadu to construct the breakwater of the Vizhinjam Port.
What news reports say
According to News Reports Adani Ports has failed to uphold its end of the agreement and later claimed it no longer needs the Muthalapozhi facility to transport stones as the construction of the breakwater in Vizhinjam is nearly complete.
In DTE report of July 2024, ‘On its part, Adani has blamed Cyclone Tauktae and the Kerala government for the dredging work having not taken place in the last four years.’
According to reports in October 2024, the government has initiated a ₹177-crore development project, proposing the construction of a 425-meter breakwater to enhance safety and accommodate more fishing vessels. This project, approved under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY), aims to mitigate the impact of previous unscientific constructions and reduce the frequency of accidents.
What is the present situation as on May 25, 2025 at Muthalapozhi?
Pre-qualification bids for construction of breakwater opened. And construction expected to commence shortly.
Dredging activities, crucial for maintaining a navigable channel, halted due to protests and contractual issues. Dredging work set to resume.
The fishing community has expressed skepticism regarding the effectiveness of temporary measures like sandbar removal, emphasizing the need for permanent solutions. Protests have highlighted the urgency of addressing safety concerns and ensuring the livelihood of fishermen.
According to The New Indian Express report on 21st March, the government is spending around `10 crore annually for dredging activities at Muthalapozhi. As per Times of India report on Sunday, May 18th, As protests over halting dredging work at Muthalapozhi ended following successful talks between the agitators and district administration, the dredging will begin on Monday.’ No news in the past week which shows that indeed the dredging work is in progress.
The job of a fisherman is to hunt for fish in the deep sea. A task that only traditionally skilled fishermen can perform. The government’s responsibility is to facilitate their journey to sea and support the sale of their catch. Their urgent demand is for a functional dredging machine to maintain a sea depth of five meters.
Three weeks have passed since the Vizhinjam Port inauguration, and fresh protests have erupted at Muthalapozhi by the fishermen. There seems to be no end to their woes.
Historical Context and Cultural Reflection
Ports will be constructed and disappear one day. The new ports will come at lucrative locations. Click on the post to read more about the possible existence of a Port in Niranam in Pathanamthitta in Kerala, which is now an India. The Greeks believed to have traded there and St Thomas reached Niranam via the Niranam port.
Conclusion
Fishermen are not just economic contributors—they are part of India’s soul. From retrieving Shakuntala’s ring from the belly of a fish in Mahabharat, to rowing against the current to save Keralites in 2018 deluge , their contributions are profound. Four of Jesus’s disciples were fishermen. Their strength and tradition must be honored. It is the government’s duty to listen to their voices, uphold their dignity, and accelerate implementation of promised safety measures, especially continuous dredging at Muthalapozhi.
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