more-in Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma has said that an offshore breakwater will be constructed at Poonthura. The provision for the proposed project has been included in the State Budget that will be presented on Friday. The announcement was made at a function in Poonthura on Thursday to disburse compensation to the families of fishermen who were killed in Cyclone Ockhi. Speaking on the occasion, Ms. Mercykutty Amma said that while a fishing harbour had been a longstanding demand of the residents of Poonthura, the region stood to suffer immensely by its construction. “A harbour will lead to adverse effects for the nearest shore owing to accelerated sea erosion of the leeward side. The fishing harbour at Vizhinjam and the seaport that is being constructed have affected the coastal belt until Shanghumughom,” she said. The proposed breakwater would be similar to the one that had been constructed at the Visakhapatnam harbour. A scientific study had been conducted to ascertain its feasibility, the Minister said. Ms. Mercykutty Amma also said that Matsyafed (Kerala State Cooperative Federation for Fisheries Development Ltd.) is likely to take over fish auctions at harbours. The move was aimed at preventing the exploitation of fishermen, who were denied decent returns for their haul. “Very often, the auctioneer and middlemen make handsome returns after every catch, while the fishermen get measly sums. The government also intends to provide production incentives to fishermen during one of the festive seasons,” she said. Employment The Minister added that fishermen would soon be compensated for the loss of boats and equipment. The dependants would also be employed in accordance with their educational qualifications. Women who were aged below 45 years and had not received education beyond Class 10 would be employed at the net factory of the Matsyafed. Around 200 dependants would be absorbed into the police force and others would be provided employment at the Vizhinjam fishing harbour. Inaugurating the function, Revenue Minister E. Chandrasekharan said that while the families of the deceased would receive interest amount every month by way of the fixed deposits in their names, the government would also provide a monthly assistance of ?10,000 to the dependants of fishermen who remained missing. Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran, who presided over the function, dismissed media reports that claimed that the government had misled the beneficiaries by failing to deposit money in their names at the treasuries. “The 102 dependants of 25 fishermen who had received the compensations on January 1 will now be eligible for their first interest amount. Allegations that the compensations have not been deposited are being propagated as part of a misinformation campaign aimed at maligning the government,” he said. A sum of ?22 lakh each was distributed as compensation to 97 dependants of 42 deceased fishermen, who hailed from the Thiruvananthapuram and Neyyattinkara taluks.

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