Fishers seek relief for ‘no workdays’ due to cyclone

With fishing operations halted for nearly 2 weeks, the fishermen found themselves in an unfamiliar situation now. They have no alternative means of income, N Devadoss, president, Rameswaram Fishermen Association told DT Next. Adding to their woes, strong winds caused damage to 52 mechanised fishing boats that were anchored at Kunthukal. Devadoss sought relief assistance for fishermen during non-fishing days now, like the annual fishing ban period.

B Jesuraja, president, Rameswaram Mechanised Boat Owners Association, sought adequate compensation for damages caused to boats and also to resume fishing. While permit tokens for fishing had been issued to fishermen of Pudukkottai, the authorities should also let fishing off Rameswaram coast as usual, he said. However, reliable sources from Fisheries Department said 26 boats were found damaged at Kunthukal, where a total of 116 boats from Rameswaram, 60 boats from Mandapam and 55 boats from Pamban were anchored.

Ramanathapuram Collector Dinesh Ponraj Oliver, Monitoring Officer Dharmendra Pratap Yadav and Sub Collector inspected the anchorage to ascertain damages caused to boats and a report in this regard through Fisheries Department has been forwarded to state government, sources said.