RAMESWARAM
Governor Banwarilal Purohit took a ride in the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) hovercraft in the Palk Bay on Monday. The Governor, who was on a day’s visit to the island, spent an hour in the Palk Bay, discussing with ICG officials the distance between Rameswaram fishing jetty and the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) near Katchatheevu and the factors that led the fishermen to cross the IMBL when they set out for fishing.
Mr. Purohit, who reached Mandapam station of the ICG at 5.30 p.m., was taken to the Palk Bay in Hovercraft ‘H-195’. He was accompanied by Commandant Rajan Bargotra, Coast Guard Regime, East, and Commandant M. Venkatesan, Station Commander, Mandapam.
“This is basically to get a first hand knowledge of the problems faced by the fishermen in the Palk Bay,” an ICG official said. On arrival at the Mandapam station at 6.30 p.m., the Governor, accompanied by his wife and family members, visited the photo exhibition depicting the activities of the ICG’s Mandapam station. After completing his visit, the Governor left for Chennai by train at 8.15 p.m.
Expressing happiness that the Governor sailed in the Palk Bay to study and understand their problems, P. Sesu Raja, a fishermen leader, said Mr. Purohit would have seen for himself the narrow stretch between Rameswaram fishing jetty and the IMBL near Katchatheevu and why the fishermen were forced to cross the IMBL, risking their lives.
“We want the Governor to take up our issue with the Centre and find a permanent solution,” he said. The fishermen wanted to meet the Governor and present a petition, but could not get an appointment, he said, and urged the Governor to take initiatives to secure the release of the fishermen detained in Sri Lanka along with their trawlers.
