Sinking of cargo ship off Kochi coast: Fishermen warn of legal action over ‘inadequate' compensation
Kochi: The Kerala state fishermen coordination committee has said that legal action will be taken against the govt if compensation as per law is not ensured for fishermen and related workers in the four districts affected by the sinking of the container ship MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Kochi on May 24.
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The aid announced by the govt for fishermen affected is inadequate, said TN Prathapan, ex-MP and chairman of the committee. The livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of fishermen in the districts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kollam were disrupted. Along with the monsoon damage, the shipwreck dealt a severe blow to the fishing families. News of calcium carbide, oil, plastic particles, and cotton-like materials spreading in the sea significantly reduced fish consumption, which also severely impacted related workers.
Prathapan said that they wrote to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairman of National Green Tribunal, the central environment secretary, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and the director general of shipping, demanding that rightful compensation be secured for the fishermen as per international shipping insurance laws.
Meanwhile, the CITU wing of Matsya Thozhilali Federation has sought that the central govt announce a special package for fishermen in the wake of the damages caused to the fisheries sector because of the sinking of the ship.
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