M'lore: Fishermen Demand GMR to Dredge Silt Mound - Halts Plan to Shift Barge
 
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (RS/SB)
 
Mangalore, Mar 12: The plan of GMR Energy to move out naptha-fired 220 mw barge mounted power plant to Kakinada from Gurupura estuary here has faced temporary set back with fishermen associations at Bunder and Tannirbavi area agitating against the move demanding dredging of the silt mound created by the project at the spot.

The fishermen on Friday March 12 taking the long existing dissent to another level have staged the agitation on the project site, demanding immediate dredging citing the reason that the silt mound has been an obstruction for fishing boats moving into the river. They alleged that silt has been heaped while in the process of creating a way to move out the barge, thus blocking the way of fishing boats.
 

As part of the agitation, the fishermen assembled in the early hours and snapped the rope joining the barge and the plant. An agitator and member of the fishermen community said that they had resorted to the move as the company official began moving the barge neglecting the demands of the fishermen at large.

However, when the situation turned tense, the police department and district administration intervened to solve the matter. Deputy commissioner (DC) V Ponnuraj along with superintendent of police Dr A Subrahmanyeshwar Rao held a meeting with the fishermen association leaders and directors from GMR group.

At the meeting, the leaders from fishermen associations did not accept the proposal offered by the one of the directors of GMR Company to reserve money for dredging. The fishermen insisted on holding the protest until their demand for dredging is met, thus creating danger-free fishing environment. Naveen Karkera, president of Purseine Boat Fishermen Association said that the company claims loss of several crores, but has failed to understand the problems of the fishermen. More than 65 purseine bots have returned without fishing, while as many as 1,800 fishermen are dependent on these for their livelihood, he added.

At this juncture, the DC intervened and suggested that dredging works can be undertaken using the services of the private operators undertaking dredging at the NMPT adding that the barge can be moved thereafter. However, Sunil Madani, deputy engineer from NMPT assured of the works only after studying its feasibility.
 
Mohan Karkera, Deepak, Shivaprasad and Yathish Baikampady, representing fishermen associations also spoke at the meeting. Port officer Capt Mohan Kudri and GMR directors, B V N Rao and K V Rao among others were also present.