Harbour fire: TD, BJP, Sena leaders call for compensation

 Visakhapatnam: Opposition parties -- the TD, BJP and Jana Sena-- have urged the state government to announce a compensation for the fisheries harbour fire victims as also an inquiry into the blaze that destroyed 40 boats.

State TD president K. Atchennaidu alleged in a statement that lack of safety norms at the harbour resulted in the fire mishap.

He urged the state government to arrange new fishing boats for those whose boats were gutted or damaged.

Referring to a series of industrial fire mishap in Visakhapatnam, he slammed the state government for its alleged failure to ensure safety.

Jana Sena president Pawan Kalyan sought a probe into the fire mishap and called for strengthening of the safety norms at the harbour. He also pleaded for governmental help to the victims of the fire mishap.

TD leader Kollu Ravindra told the media that the government should compensate the boat owners in full. Another former minister, Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, said 55,000 families were dependent on these boats and the government should pay suitable compensation to each boat owner.

TD Visakhapatnam president and former MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao said the Port Authority should take the lead in arranging compensation to the victims.

Jana Sena political affairs committee member Kona Tata Rao visited the harbour and sought a comprehensive probe.