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Fishermen village on the verge of extinction
Fishermen Village on the Verge of Extinction, Recent Phailin Cyclone. While the calamity here is one of nature-made, another one of far more serious proportions is ruining lives of thousands of people in Nellore district. In the latter case, however, the devastation is being wreaked by man-made factors.
- Residents of Nelaturu Pattapupalem in Nellore decide to vacate
- Eight thermal power plants set up in its proximity
- Rampant pollution by power plants ruining environment
- Doom for fishing
It has recently been witnessed how a vast number of people have been displaced from their villages and habitations due to the recent Phailin Cyclone and torrential rain. They are leaving in droves from their roots to eke out a living in far-off places as is being witnessed in Srikakulam district.
While the calamity here is one of nature-made, another one of far more serious proportions is ruining lives of thousands of people in Nellore district. In the latter case, however, the devastation is being wreaked by man-made factors.
The coastal areas of Nellore district, particularly those in proximity to Krishnapatnam port, are choking with land, air and sea pollution caused by thermal power plants. Over two dozen thermal power plants with a total capacity of nearly 30,000 MW are in various stages of completion. They need lakhs of tonnes of coal and vast amounts of water during power generation. Pollution is beyond repair and in immense proportions. Surrounding areas up to 20 km are seized by all sorts of pollution.
The whole fishermen village of Nelaturu Pattapu Palem in Muttukur mandal has decided that enough was enough and was preparing to leave stock and barrel for safer areas. The toxic pollution due to thermal power plants is telling not only upon the health of human beings, animals and flora and fauna, it is also threatening to deprive them of their livelihood.
As many as eight plants are around the village, wreaking havoc on their lives. They are spewing out sewage, effluents and other toxic waste. While the flora and fauna is seriously endangered, people are suffering from various ailments. Marine wealth is getting destroyed and even some sparse fertile lands under their hold are becoming barren. Alarmingly, their main stay of fishing is at stake.
Unable to take it anymore, they have decided to save themselves from the rapidly increasing toxicity to leave their place for good.
Though it is quite painful – they feel as though they are leaving behind their mother – they, nevertheless, have moved the District Collector to help them shift to other places. There are about 1,500 people in the village comprising 382 families. They are keen on moving to areas like Koduru in Thotapalli Guduru mandal and Juvvaladinne in Kavali mandal.
They have urged that they be provided land for settlement in these areas and also cultivable lands to the extent that they have lost – over 50 acres are cultivated in non-fishing season. Though the Collector has agreed on extending liberal assistance including compensation from thermal power plants and jobs for the unemployed youth among them, the promises are yet to fructify. The villagers are bemoaning that the complacency of the government has brought them to such a painful pass. Leaving the land is akin to getting cutting off from one’s roots, they rue in unison.
