One fisherman's body found; five still missing: Palemar announces Rs 1 lakh for victims

Mangalore, September 17: The body of one of six fishermen went missing on Thursday after a trawler boat sank off the coast of Mangalore was found on Saturday evening, with a slash wound on his neck. However the whereabouts of five other fishermen who were on board the ill-fated boat remained unknown till.

Meanwhile, Dakshina Kannada District In-charge Minister Krishna J Palemar, who visited the fishing port and Estuary Mouth and held a meeting with fishermen community on Saturday, has declared a compensation of Rs 1 lakh each for missing fishermen's families.

Mr Palemar also assured to provide Rs 25 thousand as compensation for those fishermen, who had injured in boat tragedy occurred near Estuary Mouth on September 13.

Mr Palemar said that the Chief Minister D V Sadananda Gowda has expressed deep condolences over the Thursday's tragedy and agreed to release compensation for the families of the missing fishermen.

The Department of Fisheries will provide insurance and other compensations, he added.

Dredging

Fishermen community leaders including perseen boat fishermen's association honorary president Umesh D Karkera opined that inadequate and unscientific dredging has contributed to the problems of fishermen.

Responding to this, Mr Palemar said necessary steps would be taken for dredging at 200-m-wide estuary mouth at the earliest.

Government has already decided to buy a new dredger for dredging in this part of the coast, he said.

Presently, the New Mangalore Port too does not have its own dredger.

Govt. to order NMPT

Deputy Speaker of Karnataka Legislative Assembly and Mangalore South MLA N Yogish Bhat, who was present on the occasion, said that the State Government would officially order the NMPT to allow fishing boats to enter into the Port during mishap or any other emergency situation.

KFDC Chairman Nithin Kumar, Deputy Director of Fisheries Department Suresh Kumar, Port official Capt. Mohan, Trawl boat fishermen association president Naveen Karkera and Vasudev B Karkera were present among others.