Mangalore: The Mangalore Trawl Boats Fishermen’s Union, in pursuit of a national movement pressing for the realization of their demands, held a demonstration at the DCO gates today and passed resolutions embodying those demands to be presented to CM in Bangalore through the DC/DM in Mangalore, Subodh Yadav.
Vasudeva Kuloor, Secretary of the Union of Coastal Fishermen and National Fishermen’s forum, addressing the demonstrators on the demands made, stated that the Diesel subsidy for mechanized boats is denied to the average fisherman who is above poverty levels. He asked for removal of this BPL tag for securing subsidy of Rs.3 for all boat owners.
In the draft CRZ notification, the Union Govt, has not included any of the suggestions made repeatedly in 10 meetings by national fishermen all over the country, as such the notification should be annulled, Boloor claimed.
A savings of Rs. 1500 per head as compensation payable under National Farmers’ Commission report should be sanctioned without further delay, he added.
In Karnataka, sea erosions are widespread and ADB loans were taken to create artificial boulder walls, which have not succeeded in use either in Kerala or in UK. Such a doomed plan should be scrapped. 15 ports on west coast should be dredged and erosion preventing walls should be constructed. The Centre should assist with 90% subsidy to improve coastal fish markets, Boloor asked.
Trawl Boat Fisheries leaders Naveen and Nitin were present in the rally today.