,. - ENVIRONMENT BULLETIN (26) INDIA: FISH FARMING ENDANGERS FERTILE DELTA
NAGAI-QUAI-DE MILLET (SOUTHERN INDIA), Nov 12 (IPS) - RIVER CAUVERY'S RICH SOIL DEPOSITS HAVE MADE THIS DELTA REGION ONE OF THE MOST FERTILE IN SOUTHERN INDIA, BUT LARGE SCALE FISH FARMING APPEARS POISED TO CHANGE ALL THAT.
THE ERSTWHILE 'GRANARY OF THE SOUTH' IN TAMIL NADU STATE IS TODAY THREATENED WITH POLLUTION, ECOLOGICAL IMBALANCE AND LAND ALIENATION BECAUSE OF THE ARRIVAL OF A LARGE NUMBER OF PRIVATE COMPANIES AND TRANSNATIONAL CORPORATIONS THAT HAVE BEEN INVESTING HEAVILY IN SHRIMP FARMS, FEED PROCESSING UNITS AND HATCHERIES.
THE COMPANIES ARE PROMOTING SEMI-INTENSIVE AND INTENSIVE FARMING TO MAXIMISE PROFITS ALONG THE DISTRICT'S 110 KM COASTAL STRETCH FROM WHERE A NUMBER OF CANALS FLOW INTO THE SEA -- AN AREA RICH IN SEA FISH.
KANADAMMA, 35, OF VANAGIRI VILLAGE IN THE DISTRICT WHERE A LARGE COMPANY HAS PURCHASED 180 HECTARES OF FERTILE PADDY FIELDS FOR DEVELOPING PRAWN FARMS SAYS, "WE ARE LANDLESS AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS. THE COMPANY TOOK AWAY THE AGRICULTURAL LANDS. NOW WE DO NOT HAVE JOBS".
"THE COMPANY ALSO HAS BULLDOZED THE COMMON POND OF THE VILLAGE TO MAKE WAY FOR ITS FARM DEPRIVING US OF OUR WATER SOURCE," SHE ADDS.
ANOTHER ANGRY VILLAGE WOMAN AVERS, "TREES HAVE BEEN UPROOTED, LANDS HAVE BEEN BULLDOZED. WE HAVE LOST OUR TREES, SHADE AND LAND. WHAT REMAINS IS SUN, HEAT AND DROUGHT."
IN PUDUKUPPAM VILLAGE, WHERE A LARGE SHRIMP FARM HAS OCCUPIED 150 HECTARES OF LAND, THE VILLAGERS FIND THEMSELVES FACING A SCARCITY OF DRINKING WATER. THE FARM GOT SEA WATER FOR ITS FISHERY LIFTED BY TWO GIANT PUMPING STATIONS, ALLOWING THE SALINE WATER TO SEEP INTO A CAUVERY RIVER CANAL - THE ONLY WATER SOURCE FOR THE VILLAGE.
SAYS ARUMUGAM, A FISHERMAN FROM THE VILLAGE, "WE HAVE NO ACCESS TO THE SEA DUE TO THE COMPANY'S FENCING. SEA EROSION IS INTENSIVE DUE TO THE STRUCTURES ERECTED BY THE COMPANY. EFFLUENTS POLLUTE THE AIR WITH STRINGENT SMELLS."
"WE HAVE NO PLACE TO KEEP OUR CATAMARANS. PIPELINE CONSTRUCTION IS A GREAT HINDRANCE TO OUR FREE MOVEMENT. OUR FISHING NETS GET DAMAGED BY ITS OBSTRUCTIONS. STILL, THE COMPANY CONTINUES TO HUNT FOR LAND TO EXPAND ITS PROJECT," HE ADDS.
ARUMUGAM IS ONLY ONE OF THE 80,000 FISHERFOLK IN THE AREA WHO LIVE OFF THE SEA.
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