More fishermen demand relief for the Oil spill

Fishermen belonging to 40 fishing villages in Pazhaverkadu region of North Chennai coastline have demanded that Tamil Nadu government provide them with adequate compensation as they were affected by the oil spillage that originated from north Chennai.

Fishing and revenue authorities held talks with them after they announced that they would take out a march to the state secretariat seeking relief, "We will take a final decision on our plan to take out a rally from Pazhaverkadu to the state secretariat a spokesman of the fishermen said

The fishermen are spread across 40 fishing villages in Pazhaverkadu of Tiruvallur district, which is part of north Tamil Nadu.

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin had on December 23 ordered cash assistance ranging between Rs 7,500 and Rs 12,500 to 9,001 families affected by the oil spill in north Chennai areas. He also directed authorities to disburse Rs 10,000 to each of the 787 affected boats. The government had allocated a sum of Rs 8.68 crore for providing relief to them.

The Chennai Petroleum Corporation arraigned by the green tribunal for causing the oil spill is yet to announce relief for the affected fishermen. The refinery is owned by the subsidiary of Indian Oil Corporation.