Lok Satta to set up expert panel to solve Kolleru issue

Hyderabad, June 5 (UNI) The Lok Satta today announced the setting up of an expert committee to find a comprehensive solution to protect the livelihood of the fishermen dependent on the Rs 600 crore fishing industry at the Kolleru Lake.

Announcing the results of a referendum conducted by the New Delhi-based Centre for Media Studies for the Lok Satta at a press conference here, Lok Satta National Coordinator Jayaprakash Narayan said 98.9 per cent of the people in the area were for removal of all encroachments without affecting the life of the fishing community.

He said 25,662 of 25,941 respondents who took part in the referendum voted for removal of all illegal encroachments but were against restoration of traditional fishing.

The three-member expert committee comprising Former Principal Chief Conservator of Forests S D Mukherjee, Former Irrigation Engineering Chief B Venkateswarulu and Former Forest Official M Padmanaban would conduct a detailed study of main issues like removal of all obstructions for the free flow of waste water, flooding of farm lands in upper reaches, checking pollution and payment of fair compensation for lands coming under the project.

The Lok Satta believed the reparable damage was being caused to over 1.5 lakh fish farms and fishing industry spread over 900 sq km in the Krishna-Godavari Delta, he added.

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