Kasargod: Having received environmental clearance from the Centre, the Rs. 48.80-crore Manjeshwar fishing harbour project work at Hosangadi beach would start soon.

The work of the fishing harbour, coming up on 50 hectares would be completed in four years, officials said. While 75 per cent of the project cost would be borne by the Centre, the rest would be shared by the State.

The harbour will facilitate anchoring of fibre and conventional fishing boats besides helping auctioning of fish catch. Nearly, 10,000 fisher folk will focus their activities through the new harbour, the first of its kind in northern Kerala. The harbour will have two breakwaters measuring 530 and 490 metres and 100 metres-long wharf besides 600-square-metre-long auction hall, 40-metres-long loading area and a 10-km-long approach roads, they said. The harbour will also have facility for a 300-square-metre fish net repairing shed. A 100-square-metre engine repairing building, a waste treatment plant, a gear shed for keeping boat engines will be part of the harbour. It will also have a canteen, a toilet and other ancillary outlets, a compound wall, and a 250-metre-long recreation bund. Around 275 boats set out to the sea every day and the harbour would become a hub for fishing activities.