Tamil Nadu - Cuddalore   

Cuddalore fishermen to resume fishing from April 1

By Our Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE, MARCH 28. Three months after the tsunami, the community leaders of Thevanampattinam have resolved to resume fishing from April 1. Other fishermen in the district have been informed of the decision.

The decision has been taken based on the plentiful availability of the `mathi' variety of fish, a foreign exchange grosser, and the persuasion of the District Collector, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, and voluntary and service organisations.

The leaders from Subauppalavadi and Thazhanguda have endorsed the decision as Thevanampattinam wields a lot of influence among the fishing community.

At a press conference held here today, the community leaders said at least 100 catamarans and 20 fibre boats would set sail from Thevanampattinam on Friday on a dry run before regular fishing resumes. A senior member, P. Shanmugham, said that depending upon the catch, the fishermen would carry on their pursuit on a regular basis.

When asked whether they would share the sale proceeds among the community, he said it could not be done immediately. But it could be considered when there was ample catch. Another leader, M. Subramani, said several other fishermen were eager to resume fishing, but they did not have enough nets.

`Inadequate aid'

Mr. Subramani said that the Tamil Nadu Government should emulate the Pondicherry model of giving only grants (and not as a component of the aid package)for both partly and fully-damaged boats. He said what the Government had sanctioned was inadequate

The Thevanampattinam fishermen were demanding a grant of Rs. 1.5 lakhs each for the 129 fibre boats, Rs. 2 lakhs each for 96 fibre reinforced boats with inboard engines and Rs. 3 lakhs each for the 17 mechanised boats, he said.

K. Aruldass and P. Ekambaram said that unlike in other places, the Thevanampattinam fishermen were accustomed to using a number of nets worth over Rs. 1 lakh (one for each variety of fish). Hence, the Rs. 10,000 given for the purchase of nets would not suffice, they said.

They said they favoured the emplacement of boulders to a height of 12 feet along the coast as a protective measure. If this was done, there would be no need to resettle the fishermen beyond the 200-metre limit stipulated by the law. They wanted `patta' for the dwelling units that had come up in the coastal areas.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News: Front Page | National | Tamil Nadu | Andhra Pradesh | Karnataka | Kerala | New Delhi | Other States | International | Opinion | Business | Sport | Miscellaneous | Engagements |
Advts: Classifieds | Employment | Updates: Breaking News |

Stories in this Section

Cuddalore fishermen to resume fishing from April 1

Copyright © 2005, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu