Summary:
Since these mechanised boats, each costing about ? 1 crore, unleash terror on high seas and the smaller boats and the country boats have to scurry for safety cover whenever these larger vessels menacingly move fast in the high seas after dusk. Of the 245 boats operating from Thoothukudi Fishing Harbour, only 71 boats are registered and the remaining 174 wide-bodied long boats have been built in violation of the norms. As per the recently revised government norms, the mechanised fishing boats should not be longer than 24 meters and powered by engines with 240 Horsepower. “Since the officials concerned are bribed, they allow these unregistered boats to operate and give diesel subsidy,” admitted a mechanised boat owner. more-inTHOOTHUKUDIAfter the agitated country boat fishermen are up in arms for justice, officials attached to Department of Fisheries have apparently started cracking whip against the mechanised boats which have been constructed in violation of norms..