Grant relief for boats detained in SL: Fishers

This demand was put forth to Chief Minister Edappadi Palaniswami by members of the Federation of All Mechanised Boat Owners Associations, which is headed by its President NJ Bose.

They met the Chief Minister at the Secretariat in Chennai.

After the meeting, the boat owners while addressing the media persons said that they had sought compensation from the State government.

Bose said that since 2007, the Sri Lankan government had been arresting several TN fishermen and their boats were detained by the government.

Till date, 184 boats were held back in Sri Lanka even though the arrested fishermen have been released. Because the boats were kept tied for several years, they must be damaged beyond the point of repair and hence, the State government should provide compensation to the boat owners, he said.

Bose called for a monetary compensation of Rs 25 lakh to be provided to each of the affected boat owners.