Delhi-Colombo talks must to end fishing row: panel

Concern over detention of 87 boats in Sri Lanka

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Personnel, Public Grievance and Law and Justice said a lasting solution to the dispute over fishing in the Palk bay could be arrived at if the Indian and Sri Lankan fishermen were allowed to fish under the purview of the two governments.

Talking to reporters after discussions with representatives of fishermen associations here on Wednesday, Committee Chairman E.M. Sudarasana Natchiappan said that a decision, however, could be arrived at only after holding talks with the secretaries of External Affairs, Home and Defence Ministries.

“However, fishermen from both the countries would benefit and prosper if they meet at least once in a year and sort out the problems,” he said.

He said the fishermen leaders suggested that the Centre could help them with subsidies to wean away a section of the fishermen to deep sea fishing and decongest the Rameswaram fishing jetty by building two fishing harbours at Thangachimadam and Pamban, strengthen the Mookaiyur fishing port and dredge a channel near Dhanushkodi for deep sea fishing in the Indian Ocean.

They expressed concern over detention of 87 boats in Sri Lanka, Mr Natchiappan said, adding the committee would take up the issue with the officials and help in securing the release of the boats.

Collector K Nanthakumar, Superintendent of Police N.M. Mylvahanan and Indian Coast Guard Chief H.H. More were present.

The seven-member committee comprised three Rajya Sabha and four Lok Sabha MPs. Talking to reporters here on Wednesday after interacting with representatives of the Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in the Mandapam camp, Mr. Natchiappan said while a majority of the refugees wanted to return home, provided the new regime in the island nation helped them et back their properties such as houses and lands.

Those who had no properties were willing to go back if they could get employment, he said. This category wanted to take a decision only after watching the developments over devolution of powers to the Tamils and the implementation of 13th amendment.

The refugees who had settled down in the State after their arrival 20 years ago wanted to stay back with Indian citizenship, he said adding the committee would submit a report to the Parliament in this regard.