Condemning “poaching” by mechanised boats from Kanniyakumari district in prohibited zones, country boat fishermen have appealed to the district administration to take concrete measures to end this practice.
Raising the issue at the monthly fishermen grievance redressal meeting at the Collectorate on Friday, Gayaz of Manapad said more than 75 mechanised boats from Kanniyakumari district had carried out fishing in the areas about a kilometre from Amali Nagar and Alanthalai beaches on Thursday though it had been banned. The mechanised boats had also damaged the nets of country boat fishermen.
The Collector should take steps to convene a meeting of the Collectors of Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts or help the country boat fishermen to meet the Collectors of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi in this connection, Mr. Gayaz said.
Collector M. Ravikumar, who was chairing the meeting, said appropriate steps would be taken to end poaching in prohibited areas by mechanised boats and informed that proposal for repairing 594 damaged houses in fishermen colonies had been forwarded to the government.
Thoothukudi North Country Boat Fishermen Association president Johnson alleged that Central Industrial Security Force personnel had detained the fishermen and two country boats for two days on a charge of entering prohibited areas of Thoothukudi harbour.
“The CISF personnel had brutally assaulted the fishermen before releasing them. The Collector should take steps to end this problem,” Mr. Johnson said.
Mr. Ravikumar assured that he would discuss this issue in the next weekly law and order review meeting.
Appeal
Mr. Johnson also appealed to the Collector to take steps for conserving mangroves near Roach Park and prevent the forest personnel from unleashing punitive measures against the fishermen going to the islands situated near Thoothukudi.
President of Tharuvaikulam panchayat Maharajan appealed to the Collector to expedite tax fixation to the houses in Samaththuvapuram and the work on the proposed park at Tharuvaikulam beach.
Fisherman Santiago of Terespuram said Sri Lankan government had not released five boats detained by its navy though the fishermen had been released.
Hence, the State government should give a compensation of Rs. 5 lakh per boat, he demanded.
Mr. Ravikumar said fishing ban period relief of Rs. 3.44 crore had been given to 17,249 fishermen and Rs. 7.29 crore distributed to 18,228 beneficiaries as relief when the catch was less.
Regional Joint Director (Fisheries) R. Amal Xavier and Assistant Director S. Sivakumar were present at the meeting.
