Vadodara, July 06: The Gujarat government has come up with an action plan to check straying of Gujarat fishermen into Pakistani territorial waters, that often lead to their detention by the neighbouring country. "The action plan, proposed by state Fisheries department, ensures that local fishermen do not enter the `no fishing zone'. This would also ensure easy fishing by them in our waters," official sources in the state government agencies. As per the action plan, the fisheries department would cancel the fishing licence and initiate legal action against fishermen straying into Pakistan waters. Diesel relief cards to the fishermen would be cancelled after getting a report from the Indian Coast Guard, they said, adding that the diesel permits of the Indian fishermen detained by Pakistani authorities would also be cancelled. The action plan comes in the wake of detention of about 378 fishermen languishing in Pakistani jails for the past couple of years.

The matter of extending financial assistance to the families of these fishermen is pending before the government for quite some time and it is in favour of considering it sympathetically, the sources said.

Meanwhile, Union Rural Development minister Kashiram Rana said that he has urged the foreign ministry to make attempts to secure release of Indian fishermen from Pakistani jails.
"Release of fishermen along with more than 60 boats captured by the Pakistani marine security agencies can help in normalisation of relation between the two countries", he said.
Bureau Report