Nearly 100 Boats Damaged In Vizag, Fishermen Seek Immediate Relief
Cyclone Arnab damaged nearly 100 mechanised boats and sank five at Visakhapatnam fishing harbour, prompting fishermen to demand compensation and livelihood support.
The East Coast Mechanised Fishing Boat Owners Association has sought immediate compensation and livelihood support for cyclone-hit fishermen, as nearly 100 mechanised boats were damaged and five sank at Visakhapatnam fishing harbour during the course of Cyclone Arnab.
The association’s national president Vasupalli Janakiram said the cyclone caused extensive losses across north Andhra and the Godavari districts, with the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour being among the worst-affected.
He said the fishing boats had been moved into the harbour following cyclone warnings, but strong winds and rough seas caused the vessels to collide.
Janakiram complained about a lack of essential emergency equipment, including pumps to remove water from boats. He urged the government to provide full compensation for boats that sank and financial assistance for partially damaged vessels. Compensation, he said, must reflect the actual losses boat owners suffered.
The association also sought livelihood support for fishing families whose members had been unable to venture out to sea for nearly 10 days because of adverse weather and cyclone-related restrictions.
Calling for transparency in relief distribution, Janakiram cited complaints of irregularities following the previous cyclone. Although the government announced 50kg of free rice for fishing families, some of the affected families received only `300-400 in cash instead, while the rice was diverted elsewhere.
He urged the government to prevent a recurrence during the current relief efforts and demanded that it credit all compensation and financial assistance directly to eligible beneficiaries’ bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.
This, he said, would eliminate middlemen and ensure timely delivery of assistance.
Janakiram also called for a transparent survey to identify every eligible fisherman and affected fishing family, ensuring that assistance was provided without discrimination. The association appealed to the state government to provide additional assistance through the CM’s Relief Fund and seek central government support under disaster relief provisions.
To strengthen preparedness, it proposed a dedicated disaster management and relief centre at Visakhapatnam Fishing Harbour, equipped with emergency water pumps, rescue equipment and rapid-response facilities.