Vizag fishing harbour blaze: boat owners, workers to be given compensation on November 23

Vizag fishing harbour blaze: boat owners, workers to be given compensation on November 23. Government decides to disburse a total of ₹7.11 crore towards compensation; owners of 30 fully damaged and 18 partially damaged boats, and those who lost their livelihood to be given cheques.

The Andhra Pradesh government will disburse a compensation of ₹7.11 crore to the owners of the mechanised boats that were gutted at the fishing harbour in the city on November 19.

According to an official communication, a programme will be organised at the ZP hall here at 10 a.m. on November 23 to give away cheques to the owners of 30 fully damaged and 18 partially damaged boats.

As per the estimates of the committee constituted by the government, which has Revenue and Fisheries department officials, among others, 80% of the property value will be given as compensation to the owner of each damaged boat.

This apart, the government will provide a one-time amount of ₹10,000 to those who depend on boats and have lost their livelihood due to lack of daily-wage work in the aftermath of the accident. Among them are labourers at the harbour and small-scale fish vendors.

The committee has collected details of the boats gutted and sent a report to the government, based on which compensation is being provided within four days of the accident, according to an official.

“We are disbursing compensation cheques to the victims of the fire accident in the Visakhapatnam fishing harbour. I will be attending the programme arranged for the purpose,” Fisheries Minister S. Appalaraju told The Hindu.

YSRCP regional coordinator Y.V. Subba Reddy will attend the programme, which will be coordinated by district Collector A. Mallikarjuna.