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Declare tsunami national disaster, says federation

Special Correspondent

Tamil Nadu, Pondy fishermen demand

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu, Pondy Fisher People Federation has demanded that the tsunami be declared a national disaster immediately.

In a release here, it said that the earthquakes that hit Gujarat and later Kashmir were declared national disasters though each of these disasters affected only one State. The tsunami affected four States and a union territory and also caused heavy loss of life and property, apart from destruction of economic and social resources.

"Any attempt to modernise the coastal belt in the name of rebuilding infrastructure should be subject to public scrutiny and open discussion," it said. The Federation wanted the Government to encourage fisher communities to stay along the coast. "The proposed housing plan, which dissuade the people from resettling on the beach, especially within 500 m from the high tide line, will potentially displace the community and even disrupt its socio-economic and cultural fabric... The plans should be tailored to address the issues and the disadvantages that are specific to the region or groups," it said.

The Federation wanted fishermen to be proclaimed as Scheduled Tribes, Centrally-sponsored education and economic development programmes, tax free fuel for fishing crafts, immediate ban on all forms of industrial aquaculture and enhancement of the compensation provided by the Government to the rough season savings and relief fund. It also demanded that no new private industry or entrepreneurship be encouraged along the coast until a study is carried out on the changes in the sea and seabed.

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