Andhra Pradesh   

Pro-Kolleru lake groups see threat from fishermen

BHIMAVARAM: The interested groups defending the wildlife sanctuary in Kolleru lake are likely to stay away from the six-day visit of the Committee for Conservation of the Kolleru Lake Sanctuary beginning Monday. The members of the Kolleru Lake Development Society (KLDS) who met here on Saturday took a decision to this effect while seeking an exclusive audience for themselves with the committee either in Vijayawada or in Hyderabad so as to express their viewpoint on the question of reducing the sanctuary area. They see a threat to their lives from the fishermen in Kolleru backed by powerful fishpond owners if they represent to the committee members during the visit. Recalling an alleged attempt by a section of angry fishermen to attack the KLDC members during the visit of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) on Kolleru some time ago, the society faxed a petition to Azeez, committee chairperson, with an appeal to avoid the conflict with fishermen, according to society spokesman M.V. Suryanarayana Raju.

The committee is likely to wade through the floodwaters in the lake as there appeared to be no letup in rains, leading to heavy inflows into the lake. The overflowing drainage channels clogged with silt in the lake pose a serious threat of floods to paddy fields and the belt villages around. Even after the clearance accorded by the Forest department for desilting of drainage channels, the exercise to be undertaken by the Irrigation Department remains a non-starter.

Plight of farmers

It may be recalled that the bad condition of the drainage channels in the lake drew the ire of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy during his visit a few years ago, who pulled up both Irrigation and the Forest department personnel for their alleged laxity on the issue.

Meanwhile, the plight of farmers of `giraiti' (private) lands in the sanctuary area, who lost their livelihood after dismantling fishponds in their lands during the Operation Kolleru programme, stares at the panel in its face.

The farmers are demanding compensation from the government which is in a bind over extending a compensation package of around Rs 600 crores for an extent of 1,400 acres.

The Forest department registered 250 cases against these farmers for their alleged attempts to revive the ponds in their lands in the sanctuary area.

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