Steps to check fishermen from straying to foreign waters: Sushma

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Thursday said the issue of Indian fishermen straying into Pakistan’s waters would be resolved soon with the installation of GPS in fishing boats and marking of the maritime boundary.

Responding to concerns raised by her party colleague during Zero Hour in the Rajya Sabha, she said the issue of fishermen crossing over to Pakistani waters would soon be resolved as GPS navigation system was being installed on fishing boats to guide them.

Besides, the international maritime boundary could be clearly marked by floating poles and lights to warn fishermen not to go beyond them, she said, adding that marking of the maritime boundary should be done in a way so that it is easily identifiable by the fishermen.

“They (fishermen) want us to help them with information about the maritime boundary. The issue in relation to Pakistan would be soon resolved. We will install GPS and mark the maritime boundary line so that neither Pakistanis come to our side, nor do Indians stray to the other,” she said.

Earlier, BJP’s Mansukh Lal Mandavia raised the issue of 117 Gujarat fishermen being arrested by Pakistan. He said fishermen from Tamil Nadu were also arrested by Sri Lanka.

Swaraj said the issue was not of Gujarat or Tamil Nadu, “they are Indian fishermen.”

The Minister said when Pakistani fishermen come to the Indian side, they are arrested here and when Indian fishermen cross over, Pakistan arrests them.