Udupi: A delegation from the state will meet Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in order to seek compensation for the kin of the seven fishermen who were on-board the Suvarna Tribhuja boat when it went missing off the Maharashtra coast in December 2018, said Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat.
Speaking to media persons at the Press Club, Udupi on Tuesday, September 24, Bhat said that the state government had paid Rs 11 lakhs as compensation to the fishermen’s kin a couple of months ago. He said, “A delegation including representatives of the Malpe Fishermen’s Association had met the then Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. She had assured us that a probe will be conducted and a compensatory amount will also be decided. Sitharaman had also met some of the fishermen’s kin prior to the Lok Sabha elections.”
Bhat further mentioned that the delegation had informed Union Ministers Sitharaman and Singh that the local fishermen held a naval vessel, INS Kochi, responsible for the sinking of the Suvarna Tribhuja boat. However, the Indian Navy has denied any such allegations.
Raghupathi Bhat also added that the state government is willing to pay the pending loan amount of Rs 28 lakhs issued in the name of the Suvarna Tribhuja boat. Nearly Rs 40 lakhs of the loan is covered by insurance.
