Mangalore : The leaders of Karnataka Traditional Fishermen’s Federation discussed MSEZ pipeline issue with District Administration at DC Court on Saturday, April 14.

Speaking on the meeting, B K Vasudev, president of Karnataka Traditional Fishermen’s Federation said that the fishermen’s community has opposed the installation of a pipeline by MSEZ long back and also submitted memorandum to the district minister-in-charge Krishna J Palemar and DC, but so far no proper action has been taken in this regard.

He also said that the Pipeline installed by the MSEZ release the effluent to the sea polluting the water and the fishes move towards other places, causing the decrease in the traditional fishing.

He said that the MSEZ and DC state that there is no problem in the effluent released through pipeline. But the fishermen are getting cheated in every matter.

Recalling the governmental scheme during the establishment of NMPT, he said that government had assured to establish independent jetty Indira Gandhi scheme, but even after 45 years, no development has been seen.

During the Lok Adalat meeting held in 2011, Deputy Commissioner N.S. Channappa Gowda had handed over the responsibility of conducting the survey of decreasing number of traditional fishermen to the Fisheries department, but still nothing has been reported till date.

He said that there are around 1800 traditional fishermen and the government must convert them to mechanize them or it is better to die. The MSEZ must give Rs 1 to 2 lakh compensation to every fisherman.

But DC said that it is not possible to give the compensation to all but must urge them to help the groups. He assured to discuss the issue of mechanization of traditional fishermen.

He also said that the federation has appoint their scientific officer from their side to check the samples of the water pollutant. But the MSEZ has not called for any meeting so far. We did not get any information on the barge being set up. If they continue the installation of the pipeline, the fishermen will stage a severe protest as this is a matter of life and death for us.

Vasudev said that MSEZ, DC and the government should understand the woes of the fishermen and support us.
 
MLA Krishna J Palemar, Raju Bhanga, MD of MSEZ, ETA Srinivasalu, DGM of MSEZ and others were present.