The Hindu Business Line : Gangavaram port: Govt announces rehab package

"Keeping in view the future prospects of the fishermen, the Government had to act. Any further delay would be detrimental to the fishermen's interests.''

FISHERMEN TRYING to enter the Gangavaram port area being stopped by the police on Friday. — C.V. Subrahmanyam

Visakhapatnam , May 5

Unable to break the deadlock over the Gangavaram port dispute, the State Government has decided to implement the rehabilitation package for fishermen unilaterally.

After another round of failed talks with the Matsyakarula Ikya Vedika (fishermen's united front) at the Collectorate, which went past midnight on Thursday, the Minister for Commercial Taxes, Mr K. Ramakrishna, announced the Government's decision at a press conference on Friday.

``However much we tried for a negotiated settlement, they refused to cooperate. They first came out with three pre-conditions and added one more later.

"They should trust the Government. If they don't, there is no point in continuing the talks. Keeping in view the future prospects of the fishermen, the Government had to act. Any further delay would be detrimental to the fishermen's interests,'' he explained.

However, the Minister made it clear that the Government was still open to accepting any genuine demands of the fishermen.

Under the Government package, a fish landing centre will be set up at Yarada and a road laid to it from Gangavaram village, at a cost about Rs 1 crore or Rs 1.5 crore, for the convenience of the fishermen.

On the issue of payment of compensation, he said that 1,040 fishermen were identified after due screening in the village, including 773 active fishermen, along with 87 with dragnets and 186 with catchnets.

But as the all-party and fishermen leaders insisted on an earlier figure of 2,073, it was now decided to extend the benefit to all the 2,073, which meant over 1,000 would benefit additionally.

``Of the 773 active fishermen, 109 who have boats will each be paid Rs 25,000 as compensation along with Rs 3,000 a month for eight months as subsistence allowance. Besides, Rs 15,000 will be paid for shifting of boats which all works out to Rs 88,000 for each of the 773 beneficiaries,'' Mr Ramakrishna explained.

For the rest of the 1,305, each would be paid a compensation of Rs 20,000 plus Rs 2,000 a month as subsistence allowance for eight months for a total amount of Rs 36,000, he added.

The disbursement of compensation would start immediately and the beneficiaries could collect from the village officer or mandal officer or through court, whichever they found convenient, he said.

Also, 300 of the eligible villagers would be provided either direct or indirect employment at the Gangavaram port.

More could get jobs in the ancillary units of the port as the Government would talk to the managements of these units for according priority in employing the villagers of Dibbapalem and Gangavaram, the Minister said.

Pendurthy MLA Mr Tippala Gurumurthy Reddy and District Collector Mr Anil Kumar Singhal were also present during the conference.

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