Govt to file petition against ban

Thiruvananthapuram, July 19: The Kerala Government will file a review petition to challenge the recent Supreme Court order extending the monsoon ban on trawling to August 15, Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan said today.

Talking to newspersons here after a meeting of the State Cabinet, Mr Achuthanandan said the decision was taken in view of the peculiar situation in the state, where trawling ban is being imposed every year for 45 days from June 15.

While hearing a public interest petition by a Goan organisation, the apex court decided to have a uniform 67-day ban across the country. It is applicable to the five west coast states, including Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Karnataka and Kerala.

The Fisheries Minister S Sarma yesterday said that while the monsoon period in Kerala was June-July, it was staggered over a larger period in the other states. So, extending the ban beyond July would not be practical in the State.

UNI