The Hindu : Kerala News : Coast Guard station at Beypore likely

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Jun 19, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Coast Guard station at Beypore likely

By Our Special Correspondent

KOZHIKODE JUNE 18. The Fisheries Minister, K. V. Thomas, today claimed to have cleared the way for providing enough land for a Coast Guard station at Beypore, near here.

The Minister had detailed discussions today with officials of the Coast Guard and the Harbour Engineering Department, the District Collector, T. O. Sooraj, V. K. C. Mammmed Koya, MLA and members of the local panchayat committee on the question of releasing the land for the Coast Guard station.

Later the Minister announced at a press conference that five acres would be handed over to the Coast Guard authorities within 30 days. The local panchayat authorities had assured the Minister that more land could be made available, if necessary. The Beypore Coast Guard station would be the third in the State.

He said these facilities already existed at Kochi and Vizhinjam. Since the land to be given to the Coast Guard in Beypore was owned by the Government, no disputes were expected. The building of a fisheries school which stands on this piece of land would be demolished. The Coast Guard would pay the cost of the building to the State Government which, in turn, would use it to construct another building for the school in Beypore. The Coast Guard would construct the building to house its station at Beypore.

The Minister said the Coast Guard station was expected to become functional without much loss of time after the land came into its possession. At Vizhinjam, it took the Coast Guard only six months to commission its station. The Minister said the Government had accorded top priority to the Coast Guard station in Beypore in the light of the heavy damage caused along the coastal areas during the ongoing monsoon.

Mr. Thomas said since the season began in May, State's agencies had to undertake 212 rescue missions to save fishermen in distress. As many as 370 lives were saved. Thirty-nine fishermen died and 23 were missing. Coast Guard is better equipped in terms of resources and trained manpower for rescue operations. The agency has aircraft and helicopter for rescue job, but these are stationed in Kochi and hence not effective for search and rescue missions.

The Minister said he too could be contacted for help on his mobile number 94471 41183. A marine police set-up is also being arranged simultaneously. As many as 28 marine police stations were proposed to be opened in the State. Arrangements were also being made to undertake dredging in fishing harbour since it had not been done in the past 10 years.

A society with the District Collector as convener and a representatives of the Harbour Engineering Department as secretary would be formed for the purpose. A proposal for one such society would be cleared at the next Cabinet meeting for Munambam. These facilities should be self-sufficient. A dredger has been purchased for the purpose. It is based at Ponnani.

Referring to the demand for providing jobs for local fishermen in the Coast Guard station at Beypore, the Minister said there were clear rules that govern recruitment and these would have to be followed. Trained fishermen could apply for jobs in Coast Guard stations.

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