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Malpe Port | Photo: Anadi Athaley
Malpe: A massive protest was held by the Malpe Fishermen Association on this Saturday at Malpe Fisheries Port demanding the State Government to relocate the Tebma Shipyard situated around the premises of the port at the earliest. It was initiated by the local fishermen to highlight the adverse effects the expansion plans of Tebma would have on the daily source of income for so many people.
The State Government had leased a ten acre plot to Tebma Fisheries in 1999, as well as promised the local masses better infrastructural facilities and building a separate slipway for the benefit of the fishermen at one point of time. Though Tebma completed the construction work in the premises, the other promises were not met, leaving this large population in the lurch. “The agreement was made between the Government and the Tebma Company, but the fishermen are the ones who have been subjugated in the matter. The petition has been sent to through the District Administration, and the Government is going to look into the matter,” said Hemalatha Ponnuraj, Deputy Commissioner.
The President of the Association, Hiriyanna Kediyoor, addressed the gathering. Nearly 25,000 families in the vicinity depended on fishing as their livelihood, with around 1,000 mechanised boats and 1,500 other boats using the port. The construction of a shipyard would only benefit ships, not the fishermen, who were engaged in fishing as an age-old profession. “What these people don’t understand is that fishing has been our trade for generations. My father too is a fisherman. These big ships have encroached on our only means of survival. What makes it worse is we do not have a choice. Fishing is what we know best to do,” said Madhu Kotian, a local fisherman.
The delegation of fishermen met the Chief Minister who reigned in 2005, and urged him to consider the construction of the slipway as early as possible. They also submitted the memorandum to the State Government through the Deputy Commissioner, Hemalatha Ponnuraj.
Sub-edited by Karishma Desai |
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