Honnavar: The construction work of the Kasarkod commercial port, which had been stalled due to strong opposition from local fishermen, is now set to resume. Uttara Kannada district Superintendent of Police (SP) M. Narayan has issued a stern warning that any attempt to obstruct the work without obtaining a legal stay from the court will result in legal action.

Following concerns raised by fishermen and local representatives, SP Narayan visited Honnavar and conducted a series of meetings with senior officials to assess the situation. A crucial meeting was later convened at the Tehsildar's office, where fishermen, village representatives, and port opponents were present. Addressing the gathering, SP Narayan emphasized that the port construction is proceeding as per legal provisions, and there is no official directive to halt the work. He reiterated that following government orders is the duty of officials, and disrupting the work under the guise of protests would be deemed unlawful, warranting strict legal measures.

During the meeting, officials from the port department and the contractor company provided a detailed presentation on the port construction project. They highlighted that if the construction is obstructed, the contractor company will seek compensation from the central board. In such a scenario, the state government would be liable to bear up to 40% of the penalty, indirectly burdening the public.

Despite the ongoing resistance from local fishermen, the environmental department has granted fresh approval for the Kasarkod commercial port project, clearing the way for the resumption of construction activities.

It has been learned that a high-level team, including Mangaluru Zone IGP Amit Singh, District Commissioner Lakshmi Priya, SP M. Narayan, Bhatkal DySP Mahesh, Tehsildar Praveen Karande, and police inspectors from Honnavar, Murdeshwar, Kumta, and Bhatkal rural police stations, along with officials from the port, revenue, forest, and survey departments, visited the proposed port site to review the situation. The meeting at the Tehsildar's office was convened following this inspection.

Another round of discussions is expected to take place within the next two to three days to further address the concerns of the fishermen and local stakeholders.