Oil companies need to uplift fisher folk, says Amalapuram MP

Kakinada: Amalapuram Lok Sabha Member P Ravindra Babu called upon the oil giants such as ONGC, GAIL, GSPC and Reliance, Cairn Energy and other big players to provide employment avenues to the fishing community in the oil sector.

Since the coastline is dotted with a large number of oil companies there is a huge scope for employment potential in the oil sector, he observed.

Expressing concern over the plight of fisherfolk, the MP noted that the oil and gas exploration and production activity was having an adverse impact on the fishery industry resulting in loss of income for the fishing community.

He reminded the recent incident of Karavaka village in Mamidikurduru mandal of East Godavari avindra, wherein the fisher folk took to the agitational path against the seismic survey taken by ONGC.

Loss of fishing activity has been experienced on a breadth of one-and-half- kilometre area where the survey is underway.

Oil companies should purchase 100 acres of land each and develop them as fish-breeding tanks as it will not only help in income generation but will compensate the loss of fishing too, the MP suggested. Simultaneously, the oil majors should monitor the fish breeding, the MP said.

Welcoming the idea, Andhra Pradesh Fishermen Welfare Association chairman Bandana Rambabu said that though it is a good suggestion certain practical problems could come in the way of implementing it.