CM presents compensation to fishermen affected by oil spill

At an event at R K Nagar in Chennai today, Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami gave relief to fishermen affected by the oil spill in sea due to collision of ships.

Speaking on the occasion, he said, "in the year 2016-17, 4524 fishermen families have been benefitted from refief of Rs 22 crore and 62 lakh. 8206 women from the fishermen families have benefitted."

Meanwhile on Sunday, contending that Indian fishermen have been placed in a desperate situation owing to Sri Lanka’s continued harassment, Palaniswami, called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to end their ordeal and also take steps to ensure the release of the arrested 32 Indian fishermen.

"This sharp escalation in harassment and apprehension of our fishermen, especially at a time when they are getting ready for the much awaited Katchatheevu festival, is causing considerable hardship and mental agony to the poor, innocent fishermen," he said in a letter to Modi on Sunday.

"Tamil Nadu’s fishermen appear to have been left at the total mercy of the Sri Lankan Navy, which picks them up at random, incarcerates them for months together and fails to return their boats for years together despite commitments made in the talks, which take place from time to time," he said.

Citing the examples at the international level, including in South-East Asia, where countries with close maritime boundaries arrived at workable diplomatic arrangements so that both sides continued to fish without harassment and interference, Palaniswami stated, "There is no reason why a similar arrangement cannot be put in place between India and Sri Lanka."