Chennai: Fishermen in coastal districts of Tamil Nadu on Tuesday poured out their grievances to the media and the state officials who visited them as part of the Vardah relief work.
Various fishermen welfare associations and the village headmen of fishing hamlets in Chennai rued that the livelihood of over 25,000 fishermen families had been adversely affected by the disastrous ‘Vardah cyclone’, which struck Chennai and surrounding districts on Monday.
Boats and fishing nets worth more than Rs 50 crore were damaged in Chennai, Kancheepuram, Thiruvallur, Villupuram and Cuddalore districts, they said.
People residing in low-lying areas - Singaravelan Nagar, Jeevarathinam Nagar, Pudumana Kuppam and Kasipuram were affected by inundation.
“Over 25 big mechanised and 25 fiber boats and a large number of fishing nets in Kasi Medu were damaged. A large number of boats and nets kept near harbour got submerged in the sea water. Fish landing and vending centres were also damaged in the place,” said Nanjil P. Ravi of National Union of Fishermen Association.
Raja of Kasimedu Kuppam said “the cyclone reminded us of 2004 tsunami. After the disastrous tsunami the fishermen were worst affected by the cyclone. The cyclone damaged almost all the boats including big mechanized boats and fiber boats.
Another fishermen Ravi said the government should take necessary efforts to repair the damaged boats and release compensation to the affected fishermen at the earliest.
“State machinery is working round the clock to address grievances of fishermen,” Gagandeep Singh Bedi, secretary of animal husbandry and fisheries department told DC.
