Daijiworld Media Network – Udupi (JD/EP)

Udupi, Oct 11: Various issues faced by fishermen and their demands were discussed in a meeting presided over by minister of fisheries Mankala Vaidya at Bengaluru’s Kumarakripa guest house.

The delegation in the leadership of Malpe fishermen’s association and Dakshina Kannada and Udupi district cooperative fisheries marketing federation president MLA Yashpal Suvarna spoke about main demands of the fishermen including increasing the supply of diesel to mechanized boats to 500 litres, set of quota for diesel on annual basis instead of monthly basis, supply of kerosene properly throughout the year for country boats. Dredging at ports every year, construction of outer port, approval of Sea ambulance, forming of interstate coordination committee, handing over maintenance of port to local organizations, construction of place to anchor the boats, multi parking facility, approval of land for multi storey building for purse seine association, handing over the land currently with Tegma company to the fisheries department after the duration of the contract, reduce the validity of certificate for wooden boats to five years and steel boats to seven years and Installation of hybrid electric engine for country boats.

Fisheries department chief secretary Salma Fahim, department director Dinesh Kumar, Malpe fishermen association president Dayananda K Suvarna, fishermen leader Santhosh Salian, Jagannatha, Ravi Suvarna, Ananda Kharvi, Yashwanth Gangolli and fisheries department officials were present.