Cochin: Cochin Harbour, Harbour in Cochin

Harbour Engineering Department continued to work as a Service Department for Fisheries and Ports Department of the Government of Kerala. The Department undertakes investigation, planning, design, preparation of project reports for the construction of cargo harbours, fishery harbours, fish landing centres, fish seed farms, hatcheries in addition to the routine maintenance of the port and fisheries structures.

The present assignments include the construction work of Fishing Harbours at Moplay Bay, Chombal, Puthiappa, Munambam, Kayamkulam, Thangassery, Neendakara, and Vizhinjam.

In addition to the above the implementation of fisheries roads and water supply schemes under the grant of 10th Finance Commission was also entrusted to the department. The works in 10 districts were progressing at various stages.

The operation, management and maintenance of commissioned fishery harbours and fish landing centres were also vested with this department. An amount of Rs. 115,89,040/- has been collected by way of revenue from the finishing harbour and fish landing centres during 1999-2000. (The latest figures awaited)

This department was formed in the year 1982 to work as a service department to Fisheries and Ports Department of the Government of Kerala. The department has achieved expertise and experience in the execution of various civil engineering works connected with ports and harbours. The activity of the department was extended to the fields relating to the development of Prawn/Fish Farms, Hatcheries, Nurseries etc. A good number of Engineers of the department are having Post Graduates and Ph.D qualifications in specialised subjects such as Ocean Engineering, Marine Structure, Ports and Harbours, Hydraulics, Aqua-culture Engineering, Port Operation and Management etc. and the expertise gained by them reflected in the performance of the department. The organisation was set up to function under a Chief Engineer with a Design Wing at Thiruvananthapuram and two regional level circle office (upto 7.2.95) having headquarters at Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. The third circle namely Thangassery Project Circle was formed on 7.2.95. Superintending Engineers are the Regional Officers, Executive Engineers are Divisional Officers, Assistant Executive Engineers are Sub Divisional Officers and Assistant Engineers are Section Officers. The Assistant Engineers are assisted by subordinate field staff, viz., Overseers and Chainmen. Office of the Chief Engineer at Kamaleswaram is the headquarters.

Design wing is headed by an Executive Engineer assisted by Assistant Executive Engineers and this wing is responsible for the preparation of Project Reports for development schemes, planning, monitoring including compilation, preparation/review of progress reports etc.

The works section headed by the Assistant Executive Engineer (Works) is responsible for scrutinising estimates, issue of administrative sanction and technical sanction checking and finalisation of tenders, etc. connected with various works under the department.

Electrical Branch is responsible for all electrical works undertaken by the department for which an Assistant Executive Engineer (Electrical) is functioning in the Chief Engineer's Office.

All financial matters were dealt with the Financial Branch headed by the Finance Officer.
Audit Branch

The audit branch is functioning in the Chief Engineer's office headed by Finance Officer in order to look after all inspection reports, audit paras, draft paras and also to conduct internal audits in subordinate offices.

There are three circles, viz. South circle, Project Circle and North Circle- each headed by a Superintending Engineer. The regional circles are at Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kozhikode.

The Superintending Engineer, South Circle at Thiruvananthapuram is assisted by technical Assistant in the cadre of Assistant Executive Engineer on the technical side and a Senior Superintendent on the ministerial side. The jurisdiction of this circle extended to the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Ernakulam, Thrissur and Palakkad.

Under this circle, there were three divisions viz. Vizhinjam Kayamkulam and Munambam each headed by an Executive Engineer. The Executive Engineers are assisted by a Technical Assistant, Divisional Account and Senior Superintendent etc.

There is one sub division under the Kayamkulam Division. The Sub Division was attending the various works of Kayamkulam Fishery Harbour Project and the works of Fisheries roads in parts of Kollam and Alappuzha districts.

Under the Munambam Division there were two sub division controlled by the Assistant Executive Engineer for attending the various works of Munambam Fishery Harbour and the works of fisheries roads of Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. The other fisheries works and Fish Landing Centres were also attended by the Division.

The Superintending Engineer, project Circle with headquarters at Asramam, Kollam-2 was assisted in the office by Technical Assistant in the cadre of Assistant Executive Engineer on the technical side and a Senior Superintendent on the ministerial side. There were two divisions under this circle, namely Thangassery Fishing Harbour Division, Kollam and Neendakara Fishing Harbour Division, Sakthikulangara each headed by an Executive Engineer.

The Superintending Engineer with headquarters at Kozhikode was assisted by Technical Assistant in the cadre of Assistant Executive Engineer on the technical side and a Senior Superintendent on the ministerial side. Under this Circle two divisions were functioning viz at Kozhikode, and Kannur each headed by an Executive Engineer.

Under Kozhikode Division, there were 4 sub divisions two at Beypore and one at Chombal and one at Puthiappa. Under Kannur Division, there are three sub divisions Mopla Bay, Azhikkal Mattul.

Important officers

Officer	Address
Chief Engineer	Harbour Engineering Dept. Kamaleswaram. TVPM
Deputy Chief Engineer	Harbour Engineering Dept.Kamaleswaram. TVPM
Superintending Engineer	Harbour Engineering Dept. South Circle, TVPM
Superintending Engineer	Harbour Engineering Dept.Project Circle, Kollam
Superintending Engineer	Harbour Engineering Dept.North Circle, Kozhikode
Executive Engineer (Design)	Harbour Engineering Dept.
Executive Engineer	Fishery Harbour Project Division, Vizhinjam
Executive Engineer	Fishery Harbour Division,Kollam

Investigations Work
The department continued the investigation works for the preparation of project Reports for the development of minor and intermediate Ports, Fishing Harbours and Fish Landing Centres.

Sanction for the following developmental schemes were obtained during the year under report