KTFF meets district administration to discuss MSEZ pipeline issue

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, April 14, 2012: The MSEZ pipeline issue was discussed at a meeting between the district administration and the representatives of the Karnataka Traditional Fishermen’s Federation (KTFF) in the DC’s office on April 14 Saturday.

B. K. Vasudev, the president of the KTFF, said that traditional fishermen have been opposing the installation of an MSEZ pipeline long back and had also submitted a memorandum to Krishna J. Palemar when he was the district-in-charge minster as well as to the DC, but none of the officers concerned have done anything about it.

 

 

Further, he said that the MSEZ has installed the pipeline to release effluents into to sea. This will pollute the water and destroy the marine life, making it difficult for traditional fishermen to eke out a living. Although the DC and the MSEZ say that the effluent pipe will not harm marine life, it cannot be denied that they are cheating the fishermen, he said.

He also pointed out that the DC had entrusted the task of conducting a survey on the decease in number of traditional fishermen to the Fisheries Department at the Lok Adalat meeting held in 2011, but no such survey has been conducted as yet.

Stating that there are 1,800 traditional fishermen, he demanded that the government must help them get mechanized. He also demanded a compensation of Rs. 1 lakh to Rs. 2 lakh to each fisherman from MSEZ.

In response, the DC said that compensating each fisherman is not impossible, but they can be assisted as a group. He said that he will take up the issue of helping traditional fishermen to get modernized. He also said that a scientific officer has been appointment to check the degree of pollution of the water.

Mr. Vasudev further complained that the MSEZ has not called a meeting as yet and has not even provided sufficient information regarding the barge. He warned that fishermen will stage an intense protest if the MSEZ continues installing the pipeline. He urged the district administration, the state government, and the MSEZ to understand the difficulties of the fishing community and to support them.

MLA Krishna J. Palemar and some MSEZ officials were present at the meeting.