Oil spill: HC directs payment of relief within four weeks

Disposing the plea moved by Meenava Thanthai KR Selvaraj Kumar Meenavar Nala Sangam after recording the report submitted by Department of Fisheries, a division bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Bhavani Subbarayan said, “In as much as the above said report has already been submitted by secretary to department of fisheries, we direct the scrutiny and approval be granted as expeditiously as possible. Preparation of de-duplication process be completed as expeditiously as possible. Disbursement of due compensation to eligible be done within four weeks.”

The insurers of MT BW Maple brought to the notice of the court that the Tamil Nadu government has agreed to accept the payment of Rs 141 crore, including the restoration claims of Rs 10 crore, instead of Rs 188 crore as directed by the court, strictly without prejudice to the claims relating to livelihood loss due to the oil spill caused by the collision. 

It is in this regard a committee with six members under the chairmanship of the Additional Director of Fisheries was formed to suggest suitable ways to calculate the compensation amount to different categories of fishermen folk affected by oil spill. 

The Department of Fisheries told the bench that the committee report was under scrutiny of the government, and in the meantime, a committee was formed to prepare bank data format with all details such as society number, ration card name, bank account number, Aadhaar card number, is under preparation for the de-duplication process.

The department further submitted that once the process of de-duplication was over, it would take appropriate steps to disburse Rs 141 crore to oil spill affected claimants through their bank accounts.