PARADIP: Mid-sea mishaps of trawlers and fishing boats, which have claimed lives of 12 fishermen in the past three years, have exposed lack of safety mechanism on motorised vessels besides the apathy of Government agencies.
Sources said 700 deep-sea fishing trawlers and 2,000 medium size vessels operate in Paradip area providing livelihood to about 50,000 people. But in the past three years, 20 mishaps took place claiming 12 fishermen while more than 80 were rescued by the locals with no help coming from Indian Coast Guard, marine police or Fishery Department.
Last Monday, a boat with five fishermen was stranded mid-sea. When no official of Coast Guard, marine police or Fishery Department responded even after 36 hours, local fishermen took risk and ventured into the sea to rescue them.
The locals alleged that many fishing boats and trawlers are not equipped with life jackets, disaster alert transmitters (DAT) and sim cards to send SOS to rescue agencies. DAT is of immense utility for the crew to tide over mid-sea exigencies. Out of 700 trawlers, only 300 have DAT. Besides, defunct patrolling boats have also affected the rescue operations.
A senior officer of Coast Guard said as the depth of river channel has been reduced due to siltation, vessels find it difficult to enter it. “Due to the recent spurt in mid-sea mishaps, we are planning to organise a safety awareness programme for fishermen,” he said.
IIC of Paradip Marine police station, Manoranjan Chaudhary, said they are equipped with two light patrolling boats. “But they fail to enter river channel due to heavy current and tidal waves. Heavy boats are required for rescue operation,” he said.
Assistant Fishery Officer (Marine) Jagannath Rao admitted that sim cards have not been supplied to local fishermen. “Out of 300 DATs that were supplied, only 100 have been installed in the boats. So, we are not able to receive SOS from the rest of the boats,” he said. The Department has only one boat whose engine is under repair at present. As a result, it cannot be pressed into service, he added.