Vaniyakudi fishing harbour work to continue based on review team recommendations: Collector

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District Collector M. Prathap receives petition from a fisherman during the grievance meeting held at the Collectorate in Nagercoil on Friday. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGMENT

Kanniyakumari District Collector M. Prathap on Friday said steps will be taken to continue the fishing harbour work in Vaniyakudi based on the recommendations of the review team.

He was speaking at the fishermen grievance redress meeting held at the district collectorate in Nagercoil.

At the meeting, fishermen raised several concerns, including a demand to ban private tourist boat rides in Manakudi area, issuance of family cards to those who had applied for them and issuance of membership cards to fishermen at the earliest. They also sought the extension of groyne in Kovalam and exemptions for fishermen’s residences under the Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) regulations and resumption of the fishing harbour work at Vaniyakudi.

Petitions were also submitted seeking the measures to prevent sewage from areas under the Colachel municipality from flowing into the AVM Canal and construction of fishermen rest shed in Kurumpanai.

Fishermen also raised concerns over the alleged smuggling of subsidised kerosene provided to fishermen to neighbouring states. They sought proper collection of rents from the shops and adequate berthing facilities for country boats at the Thengaipattinam fishing harbour.

Responding to the concerns, the Collector said that appropriate action was being taken to prohibit private tourist boat rides in Manakudi. He added that camps would be conducted for issuing membership cards, while family cards would be issued based on seniority. The Collector said a proposal has been sent for the extension of groyne at Kovalam village steps will be taken to provide exemptions to fishermen’s residences as per the CRZ regulations.

Mr. Prathap further noted that measures will be taken to prevent discharge of sewage from Colachel municipality into the AVM canal.

He also said strict action would be taken against those involved in smuggling subsidised kerosene provided to fishermen. The rent for the shops would be refixed and facilities would be provided for the berthing of country boats at the Thengaipattinam fishing harbour, he added.

District Revenue Officer M. Velumani, Deputy Director of Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare K.T. Gopinath and other officials were present.

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