THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The issues between Indian Centre government and Kerala government on procedures related to the capture of foreign fishing boats, cargo and crew now has solved and both agreed to enhance cooperation on this regard, an official told Customs Today here the other day.
Centre now wants better co-ordination between the state government and its The Secretary (Border Management), Ministry of Home Affairs, has written to the State Government asking it to appoint a committee and a nodal officer for liaising with various security agencies regarding the capture and release procedures. Acting on the letter written in October, the State Government has now appointed the Principal Secretary, Fisheries, as the nodal officer and a five-member committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Fisheries, to handle the state-end of the process.
From now on, the Centre has to be informed of the capture/arrest of boats and crew within 48 hours, according to the order issued by the Fisheries and Ports Department dated December 8. The joint interrogation and its findings should be reported to the State Government within 15 days and the State Government has to file a ‘’comprehensive report’’ with ‘’specific recommendations’’ to the Centre within 30 days of the capture/arrest. It is the nodal officer’s duty to promptly inform the Centre of such incidents and make the arrangements for the joint interrogation. He/she also has to co-ordinate related activities with the Coast Guard, Intelligence Bureau, Customs and Special Branch of the state police.
The standing committee headed by the Principal Secretary, Fisheries, has as its members the Director, Fisheries; the Commandant, Coast Guard; the Joint Director, Intelligence Bureau; the Commissioner, Fisheries Survey of India and the DGP.
