Teakwood Props for Chinese Beauty

KOCHI: The Chinese nets of Fort Kochi are all set to retain their glory. In an   effort to maintain the traditional beauty of the Chinese nets, which have become a symbol of Kochi, the Tourism Department have formulated a project under which it will provide teakwood poles to construct the frame of the  net.The Chinese fishing net with its size, elegant construction and rhythm of   operation is quite photogenic  and has become one of the major tourist  attractions of Kochi. “We should maintain the original beauty of the nets which is the signature of Kochi. The District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) has formulated a project under which the fishermen would be provided with wooden poles to  install Chinese nets. The plan is to provide the wooden poles in association with the Department of Forests. Eligible fishermen will be provided assistance under the project,” said Dominic Presentation MLA. Over the past few years, there has been a trend among fishermen to use iron poles instead of traditional wooden poles because of the non-availability and high price of the latter. Usually, poles of teak wood are used to install Chinese nets.   Huge mechanical contrivances hold out horizontal nets of 20 metres or more  across. Each structure is at least 10 metres high and comprises a cantilever with an outstretched net suspended over the sea and large stones suspended from ropes as counterweights at the other end. Each installation is operated by a team of up to six fishermen.“The District Development Council (DDC) has recommended to the state government  to provide assistance for fishermen who use Chinese nets. While being a tourist attraction, the Chinese nets are means of livelihood for many. Most  of them are not able to meet the huge price of teak poles which prompt them  to replace the old wooden poles with iron poles rods. However, the iron rods are not capable of resisting the saline water and starts corroding soon. There had been incidents of rodes breaking into pieces,” said M P Sivadathan, a member of DDC.  He added that the officials who represented the Department of Forest at a meeting of the DDC had expressed their willingness to provide the teakwood.