Fishermen of Pulicat are objecting to the location of a proposed fishing harbour in the region. Meetings held to disseminate information have only ended up in creating a rift among the villages.
K. Bharathi of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association said it was unfair that one large village had been chosen without even holding consultations with stakeholders. “Many fishermen leaders have not attended these meetings or have raised objections to the proposal,” he said.
Durai Mahendran, a fishermen leader, said the government should first complete the deepening of the estuary and keep it permanently open. It has been five years since the government sanctioned funds for it. “Something has to be done before the onset of the north east monsoon. The government can also take steps to dredge the lake,” he said.
