Papa Rao
Port Blair, 28 September 2022
The Ice Plant and Cold Storage of Fisheries Department at Campbell Bay has developed some faults and is currently not operational. The Fishermen of Great Nicobar are facing a lot of problems due to the faulty Ice Plant.
Fisheries Department operates the lone Ice Plant and Cold Storage at Campbell Bay. According to sources, a thick layer of calcium carbonate deposit has accumulated over the network of pipes in the Ice Plant. The heat exchange is not taking place properly. Sources have also informed that some ammonia leakage has also been reported from the machinery at the cold storage and ice plant.
The local staff of the Fisheries Department are trying their best to rectify the fault as early as possible. Sources informed that the staff are currently drilling and removing the deposits on the pipe, but the process will take some time.
Many fishermen are unable to go fishing due to the unavailability of ice. The Cold Storage is also shut causing financial losses to the fishermen.
The local fishermen community approached Mr. Venkat Rao, Pradhan, Govind Nagar Panchayat to take up the issue with the administration for early redressal. Mr. Venkat Rao has requested immediate repair of the Ice Plant for the convenience of the members of the fishermen community. Mr. Venkat Rao informed Nicobar Times that the use of some chemicals will speed up the cleaning process of Calcium Carbonate from the pipes and the Department of Fisheries should immediately provide the required chemicals to the local staff.