GOVERNMENT'S DOUBLE STANDARD IN FISHERMEN ISSUE

SUBMISSION BY GOVERNMENT AT MADRAS HIGH COURT ON TUESDAY

Fishing curbed for 4 hrs, says Centre...

FISHERMEN in Pulicat-Ennore area are restrained from indulging in fishing activities only for four hours during the launch of a rocket from Sriharikota, the Madras High Court was informed on Tuesday.

Denying the allegation of fishermen that they were restrained from carrying on fishing activities for 15 to 20 days during the launch of a rocket, the government submitted in its counter-affidavit that the fishermen were restricted only from entering into the Sriharikota coastal waters for four hours on the day of launch and that too in an area extending into the sea up to 15 nautical miles. They were not restricted to move in other areas even on the day of launching, the counter added.

Since there was no ban on the fishing right of the fishermen, the earlier interim orders passed on July 7 this year was modified, the First Bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice TS Sivagnanam said on Tuesday. "The fishermen can exercise their right of fishing in the place in question..." the bench said and disposed of the writ petition from the fishermen seeking compensation from the government for the ban period.

BUT, THIS IS THE GROUND REALITY...


BUT HOW COME WE ARE SUBJECTED TO 15-DAY BAN: LOCALS
By G Saravanan
Chennai,


FURIOUS over the Central government's affidavit in the Madras High Court stating that fishing was restrict ed only for four hours during rocket launches from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, fishermen called it a blatant lie and strongly condemned it.


"When the whole country knows that local fishermen are prevented from going to sea for a minimum period of 15 days during every rocket launch, how can the Centre record a deliberate lie with the court?" questioned K Bharathi, president of the South Indian Fishermen Welfare Association.


He added that for several years, the State governmen and the Fisheries Department have been imposing a two-week ban on fishing on those residing within a 15 km radius.
Nearly 25,000 fishermen living in 17 differen hamlets along the Palaverkadu (Pulicat Lake) stretch near the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border suffered for the last four decades each time the Indian Space Research Organisation launched a rocket from Sri harikota, said Ethiraj from Arangamkuppam.