Sunday will mark the completion of a year of Chennai’s oil spill when two cargo carriers — one heading into and one exiting the Ennore Port — collided and caused crude oil to spill and spread in the sea.
Over 1.11 lakh fishermen and those involved in allied activities from Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram were affected since there were no buyers for the fish and they were not able to go fishing for a long period. However, they are yet to be compensated for the loss of livelihood and damage to fishing equipment since a case is pending in the court.
Sources in the Fisheries Department said that they had sought a compensation of over ₹240 crore to be paid by the owners of the ships. “Additionally, we have sought an amount to study the long-term impact of the spill on the environment and an allocation for artificial reefs to improve fish catch in the area that has been affected by the spill,” explained an official. The department disbursed ₹15 crore as an immediate measure to families that were part of fishermen’s cooperative societies.
Nanjil Ravi of the Akila Indhiya Meenavar Sangam said deep sea vessels should be paid ₹15 lakh each, FRP boats ₹6 lakh each and catamarans ₹2 lakh each. “The disbursal of the compensation should be overseen by a court-appointed committee to ensure that the amount indeed reaches the fishermen, who have not made a proper catch for almost a year now,” he said.
‘Study needed’
M.D. Dayalan of the the Indian Fishermen Association’s said that a major study was needed on the impact on the marine environment.
“While what was found floating on the surface was removed, a large portion would have sunk to the ocean floor, further polluting the waters and leading to lack of fish in these waters. Fishermen must be provided an annual compensation till the time fishing improves,” he said.
