Government's national mega project of Sagarmala aimed at accelerating economic development in the country by harnessing potential of India's 7,500 kilometre long coastline and 14,500 kilometre of navigable waterways has brought the fishermen community together who are feeling threatened of losing their livelihood. This development is highly unsustainable and is aimed at driving the traditional community of fishermen away,"said Chairperson of National Fishworkers' Forum (NFF), M Ilango. In Gujarat, the fishing industry, especially small and medium fishermen, is dying as it has become impossible to net fish close to the coastline. "Only the big fishermen having dhaos or bigger boats or fishermen who can risk their lives are able to catch fish if they 200 nautical miles deep into the sea. The severe effects of the Adani Port and Adani, Tata and OPG thermal power plants in the Mundra area on the traditional small fishermen are already there to see, said Sheikh.

Source: dna November 21, 2016 01:53 UTC