Date:15/04/2006 URL: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2006/04/15/stories/2006041503141300.htm

Back Study team urges AP Govt to release port project details

Our Bureau

Visakhapatnam , April 14

A five-member fact-finding committee, consisting of professors of the Andhra University who visited Gangavaram village recently, feels that the March 27 firing resulting in the death of a fisherman was unwarranted and that a judicial inquiry should be ordered into it.

Further, it felt that the State Government should come clean on all aspects relating to the port construction and strive for an amicable solution to meet the demands of the fishermen.

Releasing a copy of their findings here on Thursday, Dr N. Nirmala, Prof Divakara Rao and others said that the demand of the Gangavaram fishermen for a fishing jetty at Nallamarammapatalu was justified and "several experts have also confirmed the technical feasibility of such a plan. Therefore, the Government should concede the demand."

Further, they said, several aspects of the Gangavaram port issue were enveloped in secrecy and "it is the responsibility of the Government to come clean and state clearly whether any environmental clearance had been obtained for the port."

They also wanted a comprehensive, scientific survey in the cluster of Gangavaram villages to ascertain how many fishermen would be affected by the port project.

"The Government has made a conditional offer, with three options, to the fishermen. But in our view all three options are impractical, unworkable. The basic issues are not addressed. It is not only the Gangavaram port. Several projects are coming up along the shore. The fishermen are the worst-hit and their livelihood concerns must be addressed before taking up any project," Dr Nirmala said.