Mangalore, March 26: Representatives of the Coastal Traditional Fishermen's Union submitted an appeal to Deputy Commissioner Chennappa Gowda on Monday, opposing the move by Mangalore Special Economic Zone authorities to lay an effluent discharge pipeline near Mukka.
Around 100 angry traditional fishermen had laid siege to a dredger and a tug used to tow it on Thursday, asking them to vacate the area and lay anchor on high seas and not to venture into the area till the matter was sorted out with the authorities concerned.
Following the protest, MSEZ authorities complained with the Deputy Commissioner as a result of which the DC had invited representatives of the Fishermen's Union to discuss the matter.
The fishermen are worried that as many as 5000 of them will be affected if the effluent discharge pipeline was laid.
The Deputy Commissioner in an attempt to pacify the fishermen offered to provide jobs and education facilities to fishermen to which many denied saying that there are many elderly fishermen who would not benefit from this offer. The Deputy Commissioner then offered to provide mechanized boats to them provided they invest part of the money required. One boat will be allotted to a group of 20 fishermen, as per the offer of the DC.
A decision will be taken by the Fishermen's Union after a meeting among its members, it is learnt.
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