PUDUCHERRY:Taking exception to the move to develop islands and light houses and attempts to convert 101 rivers into waterways, across the nation, in order to tap tourism potential, National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) on Wednesday asserted that the proposal would affect the livelihood of fishing communities in the coastal states, which are dependent on shallow water and mouth bars.
While addressing the media here, NFF chairperson, M Ilango called upon the union government to hold public consultations - ahead of giving effect to the move - in addition to discussing the proposal with the concerned community, in all the concerned states after providing related documents in local languages to enable people to study and react.
Conceding that the plan looks lucrative and prestigious besides appearing to help in the development of the country’s economy, he warned that the proposal would adversely affect the livelihood of more than 1.5 crore fishermen.
He further said that around 55 per cent of the 14,500 kilometre of India navigable and potentially navigable are being used regularly due to which 44 million tonnes of cargo are moved by mechanised vessels and country boats, annually.
“These activities have already been displacing traditional fishermen and damaging marine ecology as these mechanised vessels discharge sewage and oil. The proposal would lead to irreparable environmental degradation,” he said.
If the proposal is implemented, the NFF leader said hundreds of species of fish, amphibians, birds, mammals and reptiles will get affected and lead to CRZ violations.
The union government will seek Parliament’s nod to a Bill proposing conversion of 101 rivers into waterways and that Rs 50,000 crore will be spent on the project in the next 2-3 years, Union Shipping Minister Nitin Gadkari had said.