Fishermen look up to Kalam to allow fishing in Ganga

Varanasi, Aug 1 (UNI) Fishermen and boatmen today urged President A P J Abdul Kalam to direct the forest department to lift the ban on fishing and plying of motor-boats in Ganga river here.

A massive demonstration was staged at the Commissionerate by boatmen and fishermen from Varanasi and adjoining Ghazipur, Mirzapur and Chandauli districts.

Later, they submitted a memorandum to the Divisional Commissioner addressed to President Kalam.

The memorandum demanded that Kalam intervened in the matter by directing the forest department to dismantle the Tortoise Wildlife Sanctuary in 7 km stretch on Ganga in Varanasi and subsequently pave the way for lifting the ban on fishing and motor-boat plying in the river.

The agitationists also demanded that Scheduled Caste status be given to the Nishad (boatmen) community and police harrassment of traditional fish traders and fishermen engaged in farming on their own land be ended.

''We urge President Kalam to take notice of our grievances and give necessary directives to the forest department,'' Chotelal Nishad, the convenor of 'Mallah Samudai Sanghursh Samiti' said.

Fishing and motor-boat plying is prohibited in the Sanctuary spanning from Rajghat to Ramnagar. The prohibition has been effected by the forest department under relevant provisions of Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 to reduce pollution in the sacred river.

''Despite prohibition, washermen wash laundry in the river, while others are bathing cows and buffaloes in the river, all of which was also banned in the Sanctuary area. But, we are not being allowed fishing to earn our livelihood,'' Mr Nishad lamented.

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