Lok Sabha Debates
Regarding Devastation Caused By Cyclone ''Ockhi'' In Tamil Nadu. on 28 December, 2017
Sixteenth Loksabha an> Title: Regarding devastation caused by cyclone 'Ockhi' in Tamil Nadu.
DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS (DHARMAPURI): Madam Speaker, I would like to bring to your notice about the situation after Ockhi cyclone. It is exactly one month since the Ockhi cyclone had devastated the coastal parts of Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Lakshadweep. Still, normalcy has not returned back.
Madam, in Tamil Nadu, the severe affected district was Kanyakumari District. About 4,505 houses have been completely damaged. Lakhs of acres of rubber plantation, paddy, banana and coconut have been destroyed.
Initially, nearly 3,000 fishermen had gone missing but unfortunately, at that time, the rescue operations were happening only between 30 and 60 nautical miles whereas the fishermen were beyond 100 nautical miles. That was the callous attitude of the authorities.
Madam, till date, after a month of Ockhi cyclone, 257 fishermen are still missing. We do not know their whereabouts. The Government of Tamil Nadu has announced that officially only 12 fishermen and six non-fishermen are dead. So, a total of 18 of them are dead. But what about 257 fishermen? Where have they gone? It is one month over, now. The fishermen community Associations are saying that usually for compensation, if a fisherman dies, after seven years only he would be compensated. But this should be a different situation whereas we are demanding that all 257 fishermen should be pronounced dead; and their families should be compensated and jobs should be given to them.
Madam, this Ockhi cyclone should be declared a national disaster because Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Lakshadweep have been affected. The Government of Tamil Nadu has asked for Rs. 9,312 crore as relief but only a paltry sum of Rs. 140 crore are being given. We know that the officials are there assessing the situation, but it should be expedited.
Lastly, Madam, before the 2014 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had promised that when they come to power, they will have a separate Ministry for Fishing. It has been four years, now, but nothing much has happened.
I would humbly request the Government to have a separate Ministry for Fishing, as there is a separate Department, with Agriculture Minister.
Madam, through fishing, India is getting nearly about Rs. 46,000 crore of forex.
HON. SPEAKER: Please do not mix up the two different issues.
DR. ANBUMANI RAMADOSS : Yes, Madam. For the safe fishing, for their safe profession and for their profitability, there should be a separate Ministry for Fishing. Thank you.
HON. SPEAKER:
Shri Ajay Mishra, Kunwar Pushpendra Singh Chandel and Shri Bhairo Prasad Mishra are permitted to associate with the issue raised by Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss.