Thiruvananthapuram: At a time when the controversy over deep sea fishing contract is intensifying, the government may take action against Kerala Shipping and Inland Navigation Corporation (KSINC).

The government evaluated that the controversy erupted after the MoU was signed for manufacturing trawlers for US company EMCC International. So, the government is trying to save face by blaming the KSINC.

The Fisheries Department said that the KSINC took an action which is contradictory to the fisheries policy of the LDF government. So, the government is likely to take action against KSINC Managing Director N Prasanth IAS. The KSINC had issued a press release via PRD regarding the trawler manufacturing contract. This also helped the Opposition raise allegations.

KSINC signed the MoU for manufacturing 400 trawlers and ships for EMCC International. Chennithala alleged that these trawlers will be used for deep sea fishing with the help of local fishermen and their catch will be sold to EMCC for exporting.

The government had changed its fisheries policy in 2018 in a way that helps this deal. Both the EMCC project and the policy mentioned about local fishermen. When KSINC signed the contract to manufacture trawlers for EMCC, Chennithala connected these facts and raised the allegations.

The Fisheries Department has demanded a probe into Prasanth’s interventions as he was secretary when Ramesh Chennithala was the state Home Minister. The government suspects that Prasanth has a role in the allegations regarding the contract.

The suspicion intensified as Ramesh Chennithala did not mention Prasanth’s name even when he harshly criticised the deep sea fishing contract and trawler manufacturing. Fisheries Minister J. Mercykutty Amma also told the media that the government has suspicions over the matter.