Chennai: Chief Minister M K Stalin on Friday announced that Rs 5.66 crore would be given to owners of 125 fishing boats whose vessels were damaged after being seized by Sri Lankan authorities.
He said the Tamilnadu government would grant financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the 128 owners of mechanised fishing boats and Rs 1.5 lakh each to the 17 owners of country boats that are currently in Sri Lankan custody.
This comes after representatives of various fishermen associations called on Stalin at the Secretariat and urged steps to secure the release of fishermen in Sri Lankan custody. The Chief Minister elaborated on the steps being taken by the State government.
Of Rs 5.66 crore to be given to boats damaged in Sri Lanka, the Chief Minister said Rs. 5 lakh each would be given to owners of 108 boats while Rs.1.50 lakh each would be disbursed to owners of 17 country boats.
On the release of fishermen still under Sri Lankan custody, the CM explained the steps being taken. Fisheries Minister Anitha Radhakrishnan, DMK MP Kanimozhi, and representatives of fishers association would be meeting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in New Delhi soon in this regard, Stalin said.