Dr. Jeppiar, the Chancellor of the Satyabama University, is developing the first privatised harbour in Tamil Nadu, the first of its kind in Tamil Nadu, and India.
The privatised harbour is developed and operated in Muttam, in the Kanniya-Kumari District, through the Jeppiar Fishing Corporation.The harbour will function like any other harbour but on a small scale.
The harbour is entirely based upon solar power. Dr. Jeppaiar hopes to develop the harbour further into a tourist spot and to woo more tourists with the help and support of the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation.
The Tamil Nadu Government has offerred 40 acres to develop the harbour and the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department has chosen the Jeppiar Fishing Corporation, Muttom,Private Limited, Chennai through open bidding.
The Government wanted to construct a port on the principle’build, own, operate and transfer’basis, since the fishermen in and around the area had to go to Kollam and faced so many problems. Hence, Dr. Jeppiar whose birth place was Muttom, undertook the project to do something for his birthplace.
The proposed harbour will be constructed in another 15 months at a cost of 55 crores. Initially small boats will be built which will be owned by the fishermen themselves. Modern facilities with a dockyard, schools and colleges for the employees wards, repairing fecilities for small ships will also be made availble in the harbour.