The Hindu : Country boats exempt from ban

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Jun 25, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka

Country boats exempt from ban

By Our Staff Correspondent

Udupi June 24 . The Minister of State for Ports and Fisheries, Vasanth V. Salian, said on Monday that the State Government had given permission for country boats fitted with outboard engines up to 25 hp to be used for fishing during the monsoon as was being done in Kerala. He was presiding over the meeting of fishermen's leaders from the three coastal districts at Uchila in Udupi District.

Mr. Salian said the country-boat fishermen were free to go to sea during the monsoon. A decision would be taken later on if there was a legal question involved. But such fishermen would not be eligible for compensation in case of a mishap. However, the State Government had sent a proposal to the Union Government to extend insurance cover to these fishermen, he said.

There were 3,500 mechanised boats in the three coastal districts, and Rs. 10 each could be collected from them everyday. An amount of Rs. nine lakh collected in a month could be used for purchasing two dredging machines, which could be used for dredging the ports. The fishermen's leaders should discuss the matter and inform him about their decision. A committee under his leadership would then go into it, the minister said.

Since many fishermen had complained about interference from the officials of the Sea Bird Project, a meeting of the officers, the Deputy Commissioner of Uttara Kannada, the Minister for Large- and Medium-scale Industries, R.V. Deshpande, and others would be held in the next 15 days to discuss the matter. The Amadalli Port in Uttar Kannada District would be built under the Sea Bird Project at a cost of Rs. 10.32 crore, he said.

The minister distributed relief money to the beneficiaries of the fishermen's group insurance scheme and the Ashraya housing scheme.

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