By Team Mangalorean Mangalore

Mangalore, Jul 29: The fishermen in the port city have demanded the authorities of New Mangalore Port Trust (NMPT) to allow their boats to be berthed inside the port and unload their catch during bad weather.

According to Umesh Karkera, who had been re-elected as President of Karnataka Purse-Seiner Fishermen Association, the fishermen had also resolved to court arrest for berthing their boats inside the port, if the NMPT authorities did not come out with a positive response to their demand.

He said the association was requesting the authorities to accord permission to enter the port with their catch only during inclement weather.

The association with full assurance was ready to cooperate with the port authorities by providing all required information such as name of the crew of the boat and registration number of the boat entering the port and absolutely post no threat to the port.

He said there were just 64 purse-seiners and an equal number of carrier boats in the area.

A fortnight ago, in a memorandum submitted to Deputy Commissioner V Ponnuraj, the association members said allowing their vessels to be berthed inside the port during emergency and bad weather will prevent loss of valuable life and property.

He reminded that during the time of inauguration of the Port, the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had asked port authories to allow fishermen to use the port as they had sacrificed their land for the port.

He said the general meeting of the Association had adopted a resolution to request the district administration not to give permission to speed engine fishing boats inside 20 fathoms.

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