NMPT blamed for boat tragedy, no trace of missing fishermen yet

Mangalore, September 17: The fishermen leaders have blamed New Mangalore Port Trust officials for Thursday's boat tragedy, which has left six men missing after their boat drowned off Mangalore coast.

They threatened of launching an intense protest if the NMPT failed to come to the rescue of fishermen when they are in distress.

Meanwhile, the six fishermen remained untraced on Friday despite the district administration pressing an aircraft to search for them.

The Coast Guard, Mangalore police and the distric administration continued their joint search operations which continued till late evening.

The Coast Guards have used a ship specially requisitioned from Kochi for the purpose. Besides a Dronier aircraft has also been pressed into service.

Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh said the city police and the coastal security police personnel had been coordinating with the Coast Guard.

Meeting

An emergency meeting of the fishermen was held on Friday at the Matsyagandha auditorium in Bunder on Friday under the chairmanship of the president of Fisheries Development Corporation Nitin Kumar.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Kumar said if the NMPT officials had let in the stricken boat after conducting an inspection, the tragedy could have been averted.

We have requested the NMPT to grant permission for allowing additional fishing boats to enter NMPT harbor until the old port in Bunder is completely expanded. Fishermen have also met chief minister Sadananda Gowda in Bangalore to request him to extend the 'jatti' in old Bunder. The CM has accepted our demand and has promised to lay the foundation stone for the expanded stage before Navarathri, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Umesh Karkera, the honorary president of purse-seine boat fishermen association, claimed that the district incharge minister was not paying attention to the problems faced by fishing community. “Fishermen are involved in a very challenging vocation. They venture into the sea without caring about their safety,” he said.

Three fishermen had died three years ago due to the irresponsible behavior of the NMPT authorities. Just a few days back five fishermen had sustained serious injuries when their boat hit the silt in Alive Bagilu. The NMPT authorities had not left the boat to enter their waters despite sending a distress message. How many more lives should be lost before NMPT changed its attitude, an agitated Karkera asked.

He also urged the NMPT to sanction Rs. 5 lakh each to the families of the five fishermen who have been missing since Thursday after the boat tragedy.