Those living in the
fishermen colony at Chakratirth on the eastern part of this holy city
are now facing a grave danger to their settlement. The danger is from
their work field – the sea.
The colony having a population of over 30,000 was located along the
sandy coast about a hundred metres away from the sea. But the sea has
dangerously advanced towards the colony during the past couple of years
narrowing the distance to merely 12 metres.
The fishermen families living in small shanties are passing sleepless
nights whenever the sea was turbulent sea particularly during the rainy
season and stormy weather.
Telugu speaking fishermen having their lineage to neighbouring Andhra
Pradesh live in this colony. While a majority of them are settled here
permanently, many of them shuttle between Andhra and Puri during the
winter to catch fish. However, their names figure in the local voters
list. The cluster is divided into three seats of the municipal council.
There was chaos in the colony during the recent Tsunami alerts and the
administration had a tough time to evacuate them to safer locations.
But their mind set has since changed. The danger of Tsunami and the
strange behaviour of the sea have now made them plead before the
authorities to relocate them in a safe place.
In the past all attempts of the administration to shift the cluster was
strongly protested by the fishermen leaders and because of political
intervention it was still there.
“We have represented with the Collector to shift our colony to the
outskirts of the city and away from the sea, but close enough to carry
out our daily fishing activities,” said Babula Prasad, the chief of
PENCODE, a leading NGO working for the development of the fishermen
community.
According to M.D. Barik, executive officer of the civic body, an area
of 22 acres land along the sea cost was identified by the
administration for settlement of the fishermen. The same, however,
could not be allotted as it was found to be forestland. Another such
proposal was cancelled as the land came under the sweet water zone.
“We have been told that the government was planning to relocate our
colony along side the Nuanai river. But the administration has not
taken any visible steps despite our repeated requests,” Prasad rued.
“It is high time the government should take steps to save the fishermen
living in the colony from aggression of the sea,” Prasad said.
http://www.kalingatimes.com/orissa_news/news2/20080408-Puri-fishermen.htm
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