Plea filed to break sinking vessels berthed at Kasimedu

Justice R Mahadevan, before whom the petition filed by Meenam Fisheries Limited represented by its Manager (Operations) D Ravi came up for hearing on Wednesday, raised several queries about the feasibility of such an exercise and adjourned the case to September 14.

Operations of both the boats were stopped in 2010 and they were brought to the permitted berths at Kasimedu harbour. The Chief Fishing Harbour Management Committee denied permission to carryout repair works on October 24, 2017. In the process, the sea-worthiness of one of the boats suffered further and started to sink since August 25, 2018. 

Stating that both the boats are not in seaworthy condition, the plea sought for a direction to break down the boats for if they are allowed to sink at the current place it would disturb the movements of other fishing boats.

However, the counsel for Chennai Port told the court that if the breaking process is allowed, it is bound to cause severe pollution in sea and would prompt other such boat owners to approach the court with a similar prayer.