Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to families of dead fishermen

Hyderabad, June 25: The Andhra Pradesh government had announced an ex-gratia of Rs 4 lakh each to the family members of the nine fishermen who were feared dead in the Bay of Bengal. The amount would be paid to the family members of the nine fishermen of East Godavari district, inlcuding seven from Pagadalapeta fishermen hamlet in Kakinada rural mandal. The government also assured of providing free medical aid to those who were injured while coming ashore from the sea, 75 % subsidy on purchase of new boats and fishing nets for the fishermen who lost their boats and nets due to the cyclone. 90 % subsidy on Distress Alert Transmitter (DAT) device that connects boats in the sea to the Indian Coast Guard's control room at Chennai. State Ministers Yanamala Ramakrishnudu, N Chinna Rajappa, P Pulla Rao and K Ravindra visited Pagadalapeta hamlet and interacted with the family members of the missing fishermen. Observing that the absence of distress alert system was the reason behind this tragedy, Minister Ramakrishnudu said they are making the installation of DAT as mandatory for the boats. He said the device costs about Rs 10,700 and the government will give 90 % subsidy.