MANGALORE: New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) should take moral responsibility for Thursday’s tragedy, Minister for Environment, Ports and Inland Fishing Krishna J Palemar said on Saturday.The state, too, has decided to file a case against the NMPT, the minister declared while observing that NMPT’s security apparatus had blocked entry of fishing boats on September 13 and 15, resulting in sinking of boats.Speaking to fishermen at a meeting organised at Bunder, near here, on Saturday, he said that precious lives would have been saved if the fishing boats in distress had been allowed to anchor in the port. Citing security reasons, the fishermen were sent away. This sort of conduct is not only inappropriate, but also a breach of security.“If terrorists were to arrive, will they be shooed away in a similar manner,” the minister asked sarcastically. The state is consulting the Advocate General before registering a case. The state government in favour of a CBI inquiry will issue a standard operation procedure (SOP) for the NMPT on providing shelter to fishing boats.Four fishermen injured so far will get a compensation of Rs. 25,000 and Rs. 1 lakh compensation to the family of dead. The Fisheries Department is planning insurance and other facilities for the fishermen. Agreeing that excess sand accumulation was troubling fishermen, he said dredging at Hejamadykodi was done at a cost of Rs. 4.60 crore. The government intends to purchase a dredger for 10 ports along the state’s west coast.
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