Overview

The depth of harbor channel and basin needs to be kept constant for smooth passage of vessels. However, as a result of the action of water flow and waves in the channel and basin, sediments such as soil, mud and sand fall and the depth decreases. Dredging is the act of removing soil, silt, sand, etc. to maintain the depth of ship channels and bases. Mainly two types of dredging are carried out.

1. Mechanical dredging using machinery

2. Manual dredging using traditional sand workers.

Under the revised manual dredging policy, the responsibility for manual dredging has been given to the local governments in their respective port areas. Local self-government bodies carry out manual dredging using traditional dredging workers in the said area and sell the resulting sand through the website of Ports Department/Kerala Maritime Board. A share of the sale is given to the Local Self-Government, the Department of Geology and labor wages and the rest is earmarked as revenue of the Kerala Maritime Board. Due to dredging from the river, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study is being conducted by KITCO to prevent environmental damage.