Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan will launch the sea security programme of the State government for fishermen at a function to be held at the Shakthikulangara Fishing Harbour here on June 17. As part of the programme, 7,262 search and rescue beacon kits will be distributed to the fishermen.
Addressing press persons here on Thursday, Minister for Fisheries S. Sharma said that kits costing Rs. 20,000 each would be distributed free of cost to fishermen. The kit is based on a technology developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation. A good portion of the gadgets inside the kit are imported.
How it works
The aim of the kit is to ensure accident-free fishing out at sea. In the event of an accident, the gadget inside the kit gets activated on coming into contact with water and through a satellite system will alert ad hoc stations at Kochi, Mumbai and Bangalore. This will enable identification of the accident site and a helicopter will be rushed to the site in 30 minutes to rescue the fishermen.
The programme will be operated in association with the Indian Coast Guard. Mr. Sharma said that only one helicopter was presently available for the operation. Two more will be purchased to concentrate along the north and south region of the State. Five speed boats at a cost of Rs.60 lakh have been purchased. These boats will be launched by the Chief Minister at the function.
Mr. Achuthanandan will declare the Shakthikulangara a clean harbour as part of effort to maintain international-level hygiene standards at fishing harbours in the State. The harbour will have a system for disposal of hazardous waste, two auction halls, information centre, police aid post, security room, shopping complex, parking area and loading area.
Dry fish complex
Measures are underway to declare Neendakara and Tangasseri fishing as clean harbours at a cost of Rs.10 crore and Rs. 4 crore respectively. The Minister also said that as part of the fourth anniversary celebrations of the State government, a dry fish complex would be set up at Shakthikulangara.
