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No further talks with State: fishermen

Staff Reporter

They will chalk out strategy before May 29

BHUBANESWAR: Chilika Mastchayjibee Mahasangha (CMS), an association of fisher folk, here on Thursday made it clear that it would not further come to negotiating table with the State government as its repeated pleas to clear Chilika lake from encroachments had gone unheeded. "We will chalk out our strategy before May 29," said its president Balaram Das.

He said the fishermen had decided to take an aggressive stand this time as their livelihood was under threat from prawn mafias.

Livelihood source

To compound the woes, the Chilika Development Authority had started imposing prohibition on fishing for conservation of dolphins and birds, he alleged adding that the move had caused shrinkage of livelihood options for Chilika fishermen.

Chilika lake is one of the most intensely fought livelihood source of the country as several clashes had occurred in connection with rights over fishing during the last two decades.

The CMS demanded the lake should be made free from encroachments, three-months relief for jobless fishermen, identification of boundary of bird sanctuary and punishment for persons who were responsible for police firing in 1999.

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