Fishermen demand admn to drop port devpmnt project

Puducherry, Mar 22: Administrators of the Veerampatinam fishermen village here demanded the Puducherry administration to drop the proposed port development project, which according to them would severely affect the region, particularly, the fishermen community.

The village administrators in a statement today said the project entails deepening of the coast by 14 meters, which would lead to saline water spoiling the ground water and thereby triggering drinking water scarcity.

They also expressed fear of sea erosion as 90 lakh cubic metre of sand would be removed by dredging-- making the area more vulnerable to calamities.

They also charged that the fishermen would not be allowed to enter the port by the private party and added that oil and chemical spills in the sea would lead to the destruction of fish.

The dumping of boulders would affect fisehrmen in the village due to sea erosion they said and demanded the government to drop the move.

A pubic meeting would be organised at Veerampatinam this evening to condemn the move.

UNI