Fishermen affected by the 2017 oil spill off Tamil Nadu’s Ennore, following the collision between two ships, will get additional compensation, a five-member bench of the National Green Tribunal of India has ordered.
The NGT, has in a recent order, directed the Tamil Nadu government to encash the bank guarantees deposited by the two shipping companies and disburse the amount proportionally to the affected people.
The state Fisheries Department will be the nodal agency to oversee the payment of compensation to the affected people and the bench has directed it to take the assistance of individuals or companies for executing the compensation.
Cargo ships MT BW Maple and MT Dawn Kancheepuram near Kamarajjar port on January 28, 2017, led to the spilling of oil and affected the lives of fishermen up to Puducherry. The oil spill affected aquatic life and around 100 Olive Ridley turtles were found dead during their peak breeding season. The fishermen were able to venture into sea only in April 2018 leading to major losses in their revenue.
Several rounds of discussions were carried out regarding the compensation to the affected and the Madras High Court pronounced an order to execute the compensation. Following this, a compromise was arrived between the two shipping companies to pay Rs 240 crore as compensation for the claim of the state government.