The Tourism Department’s project to restore the 11 heritage Chinese fishing nets on the Fort Kochi seafront that has dragged on for sometime now is expected to get momentum soon with the issue of procuring teak poles of the right size and age to rebuild the nets set to be resolved. Right now, the cantilever structure of most of these iconic nets features iron bars, thanks to the non-availability of teak. The ?1.57-crore project, for which Kitco is the consultant, envisages replacing the iron bars with teak poles. Poles with lengths of 9 m, 8 m and 7 m are required to rebuild these nets, but the government only grants licence for pieces that are 6.5-m long. So special permission was given to the Divisional Forest Officers at Chalakudy, Malayattoor and Thrissur for the same, but the right kind of teak necessary for the work couldn’t be identified in these areas. Finally, we located teaks of the required age under DFO, Kothamangalam, and the process is under way to procure them, said Derson Antony, coordinator of the Kochi Chinese Net Owners’ Association. The process is rather slow because juvenile teak is required to rebuild the nets, but the rules only permit felling of aged ones. The file is with the Chief Conservator of Forest, Kottayam. He is now expected to seek a report from DFO, Kothamangalam, and forward it to the PCCF for grant of permission, said a source close to the development. Kitco has recommended formation of a committee comprising the District Collector, local MLA, Tourism Department officials and other stakeholders to oversee the restoration work, which is likely to be carried out by the net owners association under Kitco’s supervision. Smaller jetty a boon Concurrently, the plan for the construction of a jetty for Water Metro by Kochi Metro Rail Limited (KMRL) on the beachfront is turning out to be a blessing for the Chinese net owners. The original plan of the KMRL was to construct a longer jetty capable of simultaneously berthing three boats with lengths of 22 m each. This needed relocation of three Chinese nets from the fuel station side of the beach. However, following a discussion with the net owners in early May, we have decided to reduce the length of the jetty, which will now be able to berth two boats with minimal or zero relocation of the nets, said A.P.M. Mohammed Hanish, managing director of KMRL. We are consulting all stakeholders and will also do beautification of the beachfront heeding to the request of the net owners. Wherever there’s a gap in restoration of the nets and beautification of the area, we will chip in so that it helps tourism, he said. June 29 is the last date for submission of tenders for the construction of the boats for the Water Metro and KMRL intends to launch the service of the first boat in May next year. Mr. Antony said that with the KMRL getting the area dredged up for the jetty, sand accumulation around the nets would be a thing of the past and there would be better and easier access to the foundation structure of the nets. With a better promenade and easier access to the nets, tourists would be able to watch the operation of these nets and enthusiasts could get to try their hands as well, he said.