Mangalore: MSEZ Pipeline Row - Talks Fail as Fishermen Reject Compensation
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS)
Mangalore, Apr 14: The issue of MSEZ pipeline that triggered friction between the local traditional fishermen and the MSEZ officials remained in deadlock on Saturday April 14 even after a compensation of Rs 15 lac was proposed at a meeting.
The negotiation efforts between MSEZ and the traditional fishermen held with the deputy commissioner on Saturday turned futile as the offer of Rs 15 la as compensation to the Karavali Traditional Fishermen Union was rejected by the fishermen.
Earlier in the meeting, B K Vasudeva, president of Karavali Traditional Fishermen's Union said that the shore-based fishing catch is decreasing every year, causing severe problems to traditional fishermen who have taken loan and whose lives are in a dilemma now. He pointed out that through the pipeline 1,523 micro gram of petroleum hydro carbon per liter of water is added in Kulai area as against 144 micro gram in Padubidri seashore, as per the report by the National Institute of Oceanology, Goa. Further, content of high ammonia, nitrate and cadmium mercury are causing decrease in fish catch, he said.
During the meeting, he also sought permanent compensation for affected fishermen and demanded that traditional fishing should be converted to mechanized form, for which the MSEZ should provide 60 mechanized boats.
MSEZ MD Rajeev Banga said that the pipeline alone is not the cause for decrease in the quantity of fish, and maintained that the public hearing prior to the placing of the pipeline was held according to procedures and only after the environment ministry gave the clearance certificate, the work of laying the pipeline was initiated.
However, the fishermen present during the meeting said that the Kairampani units (seashore fishing by casting nets) which were 55 earlier had now come down to mere 1 unit because of the decrease in fish caused by contamination of water in the seashore.
CEO of the Panambur Beach Tourism project Yathish Baikampady countered that the so-called public hearing prior to the placing of the pipeline was for namesake as none of the fishermen union had been invited.
DC Dr Channappa Gowda who chaired the meeting said that efforts can be made to avail compensation from the government.
During the meeting, though MSEZ offered Rs 15 lac to Karavali Traditional Fishermen Union to be disbursed among traditional fishermen as compensation amount, they (fishermen) said it would not serve the purpose. Hence, fishermen stuck to the decision of opposing the pipeline in the seashore in coming days.
MLA Krishna J Palemar who was present during the meeting represented the fishermen. ADC Dayanand was also present.