No boat in distress approached us: NMPT

September 19, 2011

Mangalore, November 20: New Mangalore Port Trust Chairman P Tamilvanan claimed that there was no boat had arrived to the New Mangalore Port on September 14.

This contradicts the claim by Vincent, the sole survivor of the 'Ocean Fisheries-2' boat tragedy that NMPT authorities had refused to anchor the boat in distress in the Port,

Speaking to the media persons on Monday, the NMPT Chairman ruled out Vincent's words and said, “the news that NMPT refused to give permission for anchoring the boat in distress in the Port is not acceptable and far from truth.”

He said that the NMPT is ready to face any inquiry in this regard. “On the previous day of the boat tragedy, the NMPT had anchored two boats from outside and there was no reason for the Port authorities to reject the plea of the fishermen in 'Ocean Fisheries-2', if at all the fishermen had asked for help,” he said.

The authorities from the Coast Guard, Fisheries and other departments who were present at the meet too washed their hands off, as none of the officials affirmed the statement of the survivor of the tragedy that the crew members of the sunken boat had sent distress message to them.

Recalling the incident, Coast Guard Commandant Rajendra Sigh Safal informed that he had received a call informing him about the boat in distress on September 15 at 3 am, following which he made arrangements for deploying an aircraft from Kochi to search for the boat and the search operation began at 5.30 am. “That was the minimum time required for making arrangements for the aircraft and we could not do anything more,” he said.

P Tamilvanan said that going by the words of Coast Guard staff, the boat in distress was stuck in the sea almost 30 nautical miles away from New Mangalore Port when the boat members sought help.

“When such was the situation, how can one believe that the boat had approached NMPT authorities seeking help on the same day?” he asked.

Port Security Committee

In a new development, Port Security Committee has been formed consisting of the NMPT Chairman, Mangalore Assistant Commissioner, Coast Guard Commandant, Assistant Commissioner of Police, Fisheries Department Deputy Director and others. The committee is scheduled to hold meetings once in three moths. The committee held an official meeting on Monday to discuss the matters pertaining to the security of the Port.

NMPT Chairman said that henceforth NMPT authorities will shelter the boats in distress in the Port without following the usual procedure of seeking assistance from the Fisheries Department. “The men in the boat will be taken care first and then the Port authorities would contact the Fisheries Department to receive the security clearance,” he informed.

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Mangaluru to witness 23 km human chain on International Day of Democracy

News Network

September 12,2024

Mangaluru: Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur said that as a part of the International Day of Democracy, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will hold a 23-km long human chain and plant 1000 saplings in the Bengre area on September 15.

The human chain will be formed from Pavanje bridge to the border of Arkula, which will pass through Nanthoor Junction- Kannur Junction. The event is organised with the objective of creating awareness among the public, particularly the youth, about the significance of democracy. Around 10,000 people, particularly students, will participate in forming the human chain in the city limits, he told media persons.

He said Democratic system in India is a model to the world and we should be grateful to Dr B R Ambedkar for giving the country a beautiful constitution. To make the people, particularly the youth, aware of the Constitution and its preamble, the state government has chalked out a plan to form a mega human chain from Bidar to Chamrajnagar. As a part of it, the programme will be held in Mangaluru. Students from various schools, colleges, various organisations, NGOs should actively participate to make the event a grand success.”

The Mayor said as a part of the celebrations, an arch will be built at Pavanje bridge and Kannur Junction. The Zonal office at Surathkal will be decorated with tri colour along with KPC Circle, Nanthoor Junction, Padil Junction. The main programme will be held at Kadri Circle near Circuit House in Mangaluru, which will be attended by DK MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, MLAs D Vedavyasa Kamath, Dr Y Bharath Shetty, DC Mullai Muhilan MP and others. Flags will be placed for every 100 metre of the human chain stretch. The participants can click their photos and upload it through https://democracydaykarnataka.in/ to collect a certificate, added the mayor.

The human chain will be held from Pavanje to Mukka checkpost, Mukka chepost to Mukka Junction, Mukka Junction to NITK gate, NITK gate to Tadambail Junction, Tadambail Junction to Hotel Suraj, Hotel Suraj to Govinda Dasa College, Govinda Dasa College to Kordabbu Daivasthana, Hosabettu, Kordabbu Daivasthana to Honnakatte Junction, Kulai to APMC, Baikampady, Hotel Vishwasagar to Mangaluru traffic police check post , Mangaluru traffic police check post to Panambur circle, Panambur Circle to NMPA railway track, MCF to Kuloor bridge, Kuloor bridge to Gold Finch ground, Gold Finch ground to Kottara Chowki, Kottara Chowki to BMS Hotel, BMS Hotel to SKS apartment, KPT to Saptagiri petrol bunk, Nanthoor Circle to Kaikamba, Maroli Jodukatte till Padil Circle, Padil to First Neuro Hospital – Kannur Junction, Adyar Katte to Sahyadri College, Sahyadri College to Expert Cross (Valacchil), Express Cross to Arkula border.

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