Villagers firm on stalling fish tank

Gudivada: The agitation by the people of Aripirala village in Nandivada mandal in Krishna district against construction of a fish tank, adjacent to the existing drinking water tank, which has been meeting their drinking water needs for generations is taking a serious turn with the villagers determined to stop the digging of the tank at any cost. Aripirala village has a population of 3,000 and 98 per cent of them live on farming. And interestingly, it is considered a Dalit village as they constitute majority. The village presents a refreshing look with green fields dotting the landscape. The villagers, according to a source, have been successfully stalling the efforts of people to have a fish tank in the village for the past 15 years. Recently, some people have initiated works on the tank proposed in a around 75 acres adjacent to the drinking water tank, showing the permission they supposedly got from the authorities in 2008. They also reportedly have a consent letter of the villagers in approval of the tank. However, the villagers allege that a few henchmen of the fish tank owner sneaked into the agitating villagers camp, a few years ago and got the signatures of the people opposing the tank. The same document is being shown as the villagers' approval for the tank fictitiously, they allege. The agitated villagers took to agitational path and in the process held a 'rasta roko' on the Eluru- Gudivada highway on Friday opposing the construction of the tank. The fish tank, if materialised, would pose a threat not only to the existing drinking water tank with pollution, but also to the houses constructed under Indiramma housing scheme, abutting the tank, they say. Unmindful of the agitation by the locals, the fish tank management is going ahead with the works. The people employed by the owner of the tank were seen clearing weeds and bushes in the site before launching formal work.