The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Row over fishing rights

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 30, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Row over fishing rights

By Our Staff Reporter

KURNOOL, DEC. 29. Trouble has been brewing over fishing rights in the Alaganur reservoir of Nandikotkur constituency in Kurnool district for some time. A corporate fish farmer, backed by local Congress leaders, has planned to raise fish in the reservoir, which was filled this year for the first time. However, residents of villages close to the reservoir opposed the plan and proposed to grow fish on their own through fishermen's cooperative societies.

Residents of Gadivemula, Talamudipi, Allagadda, Korraprole and Rollapadu staked claim for fishing rights. Some of them released fish seedlings to bring the reservoir under their control. About 3.5 lakh seedlings were procured from Kaikalur in Krishna district at a cost of Rs 1.80 lakh and released into the tank.

A divided lot

The incident triggered rivalry between those backing the corporate fish farmer and those supporting local fishermen societies. Officials of the Fisheries Department said that they could not act now as the Irrigation Department was yet to transfer the fishing rights to them. Only after the formal notification, they could begin the process of setting up cooperative societies.

Several groups have applied to the Fisheries Department for licence keeping in view the potential of the Alaganur reservoir. As against its capacity of three tmcft, about 1.5 tmcft of water was stocked this year. Members of the cooperative society of an old tank, which was displaced by the reservoir, had requested the Fisheries officials to recognise their society. The police have set up a camp at the reservoir to avoid any untoward incident.

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