Latest news with #TNPrathapan
Time of India
6 days ago
- General
- Time of India
Ship capsize: Plea seeks rehab package
Kochi: A PIL has been filed in HC by former MP T N Prathapan seeking a comprehensive compensation and rehabilitation package for the fishermen and other stakeholders affected by the capsize of the Liberian-flagged vessel MSC ELSA-3 off the Kerala coast. A bench of Chief Justice Nitin Jamdar and Justice Basant Balaji will consider the petition on Thursday. The petitioner alleged that the incident led to an oil spill and the discharge of toxic substances, including calcium carbide and nurdles, causing severe damage to the marine ecosystem and traditional fishing communities. The petition contends that the Kerala state pollution control board has a statutory duty to prepare and implement an effective oil spill disaster contingency plan. It further seeks a directive to the central and state govts to constitute a high-level expert committee to assess the environmental damage, recommend restoration measures, and initiate legal action against the shipowner and insurer under relevant international conventions and national laws.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Sinking of cargo ship off Kochi coast: Fishermen warn of legal action over ‘inadequate' compensation
Kochi: The Kerala state fishermen coordination committee has said that legal action will be taken against the govt if compensation as per law is not ensured for fishermen and related workers in the four districts affected by the sinking of the container ship MSC ELSA 3 off the coast of Kochi on May 24. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The aid announced by the govt for fishermen affected is inadequate, said TN Prathapan, ex-MP and chairman of the committee. The livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of fishermen in the districts of Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Thiruvananthapuram, and Kollam were disrupted. Along with the monsoon damage, the shipwreck dealt a severe blow to the fishing families. News of calcium carbide, oil, plastic particles, and cotton-like materials spreading in the sea significantly reduced fish consumption, which also severely impacted related workers. Prathapan said that they wrote to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, chairman of National Green Tribunal, the central environment secretary, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and the director general of shipping, demanding that rightful compensation be secured for the fishermen as per international shipping insurance laws. Meanwhile, the CITU wing of Matsya Thozhilali Federation has sought that the central govt announce a special package for fishermen in the wake of the damages caused to the fisheries sector because of the sinking of the ship.
