M’lore: Old Port Users Union stages Protest to Streamline Issuance of Fitness Certificate for

By Ashritha D’Souza
Pics by John V Tauro
Bellevision Media Network

Mangalore, 23 Oct 2013: The Old Port Users Union staged protest at the dock here on Tuesday October 22, urging the port authorities to streamline the annual checking of deep sea fishing trawlers by appointing new incumbent at the earliest.  Each fishing trawlers mandatorily should have the fitness certificate to ascertain its sea worthiness before sailing into Arabian Sea, as it saves the interests of both the trawler owner and the insurer. 

 

Meanwhile, the police arrested the last incumbent Captain Swamy during September, while Shantakumar, an engineer working for ADB project was given the charge, who is not a marine engineer qualified to issue fitness certificate after inspecting the trawler.  Although, Captain R Mohan is better placed to take over the charge, who is qualified to do the task, has been denied to be new incumbent.  The Vessel Owners Union has been urging the state authorities including district-in-charge minister Ramanath Rai and fisheries minister Abayachandra Jain to address their grievances at the earliest.  At the backdrop of lack of response, the Old Port Users Union staged the protest at the dock here on Tuesday morning.

 

 

Mangalore south MLA J R Lobo who arrived at the spot, contacted the ministers Rai and Jain and on the basis of their response urged the agitators to call of their stir.  The Union withheld their stir, but demanded concrete actions in resolving their issue at the earliest.

 

Speaking to this reporter, Vessel Owners Union member Harish Kava said that in the absence of bona fine port officer to issue fitness certificates, there has been several fishing trawlers moored at the berth since many days.  The fishing season has begun in September, but the vessels cannot venture into the sea without valid fitness certificates.  The fisheries catch has considerably dwindled owing to idle vessels and fishermen sitting idle.  The Old Port is in mess with ongoing ADB project without proper methodology.

The protesters blocked Lakshadweep-bound passenger vessel that was supposed to leave the port at 10.30am on Tuesday.  Besides, all the activities at the Old Port came to standstill, otherwise also since the few days the old port that used to be bustling with activities bore deserted look. 

 

Old Port Users Union leaders R Mohan, Nazeer Bajal, Hameed Ucchil, Charan Karkera and hundreds of members were present on the occasion.