CM begins oil spill relief payout to fishermen

The state government in a press release here said a total of 1,11,448 fishermen would be given a total of about Rs 131 crores, which was recovered from the owners of the two ships. The Chief Minister distributed cheques for 21 fishermen belonging to Chennai, Tiruvallur and Kancheepuram as a token of commencing the distribution for all the fishermen.

The collision of the two ships and the resulting oil spill resulted in loss of livelihood for the fishermen. The government had already distributed Rs 5,000 each to 30,000 fishermen as interim relief on March 6.

The financial relief for fishermen would be given as per their category and the earning capacity. 

The fishermen had been classified into those who own motorised boats, country boats, mechanised country boats, those who go for fishing in the vessels owned by others, besides the fish vendors and those who rely on subsidiary works related to fishing.

As per the relief scheme, owners of motorised boats would be given Rs 35,000 each, while those having mechanised country boats would get Rs 20,000 each. Fishermen, who own country boats, would be given Rs 15,000 each, while those who do not own boats but go for fishing would receive Rs 12,000 each. 

Fish vendors and those who rely on other jobs related to fishing would be given Rs 10,000 each, the release said. 

Fisheries Minister D Jayakumar and other officials were also present during the function. 

The two ships, the Dawn Kanchipuram and the BW Maple collided off Ennore coast on January 28 causing an oil spill of 251.46 tonnes. More than 35 km of Chennai’s coastline was affected due to the oil spill with Ernavoor as the ‘epicentre.’ 

Fishing activities were affected for about three months and it resumed only in late April after the groynes on the shores were cleared of oil slick.