Bhuj fishermen protest

Bhuj, Mar 14 (UNI) Over 200 fishermen of the Shekatia village on the seashore off the Gulf of Kutch today held a rally here and submitted a memorandum against the SEZ being built by Adani port.

The memorandum was handed over to the Resident Deputy Collector (RDC), who collected it on behalf of Collector Dhanjay Dwivedi.

The fishermen, also known as 'pagadia' or those who wade into sea and catch fish on foot, are protesting the blocking of their road by the SEZ. A compound wall has been built around the SEZ and the fishermen will now have to make a 8 to 10 km detour to reach the sea.

Land for the SEZ has been taken from Shekhatia, Goersama and 12 other villages though it is only Shekhatia village that is affected.

Under the SEZ notification, it has been clearly stated that at least a 20 feet wide road should be provided for the fishermen of Shekatia to reach the sea. By building a compound wall, the Adani Port has breached this condition the fishermen alleged in their memorandum to the Collector.

The fishermens agitation has been going on for the past one month. A memorandum has already been presented to the mamlatdar who had assured a solvtion their problem. The fishermen have been observing on sit-ins for the past 25 days in front of the mamlatdar office.

UNI