AHMEDABAD: Fishermen are up in arms against the corporate giant Essar, opposing its move to construct a jetty near Salaya on the Saurashtra coast in Gujarat's Jamnagar district.
The Salaya Sailing Vessels Association on Monday took out a protest rally in Jamnagar and submitted a memorandum to the District Collector opposing the jetty proposal. A large number of people from Salaya and the surrounding villages participated in the rally.
Association secretary Adam Bhaya claimed that over 50,000 fishermen, their families and dependents would be affected by the construction of the jetty which would completely ruin fishing in the area. He claimed that the existing jetties of both Essar and Reliance at Vadinar in close vicinity had already hit their livelihood. The area around these jetties had already become out of bound for fishermen and a similar situation would be repeated if the Salaya jetty was allowed to come up. “Moreover, the pipeline which is expected to carry hazardous cargo will pass through the town posing new dangers to our existence,” he said.
The memorandum submitted on behalf of “Salaya Machhimar Sahkari Mandali” urges the district administration to provide a clear picture of the prevailing status of the jetty project so that the people can take appropriate action in the matter and details of the administrative clearance given to the project.
“We are determined to resist the construction of this jetty at all cost. If necessary, we will seek judicial intervention to fight for our right to livelihood,” Mr. Bhaya said.
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