The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Nellore News : Tsunami victims cry for early rehabilitation

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Friday, Jan 07, 2005

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Nellore

Tsunami victims cry for early rehabilitation

By Our Staff Reporter

Overturned boats at Mypadu coast

NELLORE, JAN. 6. While it may take several months to bring about normalcy, the immediate need is to provide proper succour to the tsunami-affected. Since people near the shore bore the brunt of the havoc, the fishing sector is the worst affected.

According to official information, an estimated 201 boats are missing and more than 3,300 boats are damaged. This may be the tip of the iceberg, as full picture is yet to emerge, with enumeration going on. The damage suffered by fishermen and the sector is put at Rs. 10 crores.

In lenders' clutches

A visit to the shore areas of Mypadu and Pallepalem shows a row of boats lying scattered on the shore and a layman may wonder why they have not been put to use. These boats were overturned by the tide. An ordinary boat with engine and insurance cover comes to nearly Rs. 1 lakh and provides employment to four persons. However, most fishermen are in the clutches of money-lenders and support from the Government side is minimal. Though the fish catch is encouraging, the returns are spent on repayment of loans and clearing other expenditures. In certain cases, fishermen societies and those maintained by elders have full control over the boats. Added to this is the damage to nets, whose price ranges from Rs. 7,000 to Rs. 1 lakh in case of the `Hyla' category. Most of the nets -- hundreds in number -- are either washed away or damaged beyond repair. Seeing the state of affairs, some of the technicians who repair the boats/accessories have left the place.

Salinity threat

Apart from deprivation of livelihood, fishermen-dominated shore areas are facing the problem of salinity as the tidal wave has polluted water sources. Fishermen domiciled along the coast of Mypadu do not have direct water supply and still wait for pipeline. The same is the situation in Pallepalem and other villages where wells and ponds have been polluted by the tidal wave. Though the authorities have arranged for transport of water, the situation has not yet improved. One can see women in groups fetching water from a long distance.

The aqua sector received a severe blow as most of the catch has been washed away. Thus, viewed from any angle, there is only despair and disappointment writ large on the face of the fishermen community. It may take one month to resume fishing, which is when damaged nets/boats are repaired/replaced. With a number of VIPs having already visited affected areas, one only hopes that rehabilitation will be expedited. For the time being, it is the rice supplied by the Government that keeps life going.

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Tsunami victims cry for early rehabilitation