State directed to provide transponders to fishermen

The division bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice P Rajamanickam before whom the plea moved by Fishermen care came up on Tuesday, sought to know from the Government pleader as to why the transponders cannot be offered free of cost considering the continuous problems faced by fishermen by virtue of crossing the maritime boundary.

However, with the Government pleader citing huge costs especially with a single transponder costing Rs 40,000 and that the process involved a policy decision, the bench directed the Government to implement the order passed by the bench comprising Justice S Manikumar and Justice Subramonium Prasad, which had been hearing the case.

The bench then in its order on October 29 had held “Fishermen from the regions of Nagapattinam, Ramanathapuram, Rameshwaram and Kanyakumari are stated to have been affected and therefore, we are of the view that transponders have to be installed, in a phased/periodical manner in the areas, where approximately, 3000 boats are said to be in operation.”

“Considering the said number and the tentative cost of Rs 40,000 quoted earlier before us, ISRO, is directed to negotiate with the four manufacturers on the cost of transponders to be fitted. There are about nearly 30,000 boats in the whole of the State and therefore, cost could be fixed depending upon the number,” the bench added.

As per submissions made by ISRO during the earlier hearing, the transponder would help the fisheries department on the mainland to locate the exact place where every fishing boat was stationed and issue warnings in case, they cross the maritime boundary. However, it is amply important that the fishermen always kept their transponders on the boats switched on when they are at sea, the ISRO official had said.