CPM demands withdrawal of police force from Pudimadaka

Visakhapatnam: District wing of CPM demanded the state government immediately withdraw the police force deployed at Pudimadaka fishermen village in Atchyutapuram mandal in the district and lift the prohibitory orders under Section 144 imposed to allow the APIIC to lay a pipleline into the sea for releasing poisonous gases to be emanated by chemical and pharma industries.

District secretary K Lokanadham condemning the illegal arrests of fishermen opposing the pipeline work told reporters here on Saturday that all the fishermen were opposing the pipeline work as it would affect their livelihood due to the release of poisonous gases and industrial effluents into the sea.

He alleged that the government has been indulging in undemocratic methods by arresting and sending those opposing the work to jail. He further stated that the APIIC stepped up the pipeline work. He said that the police arrested 19 persons, including Andhra Pradesh State Fishermen’s Welfare Association general secretary Koviri Appalaraju, leader of Displaced Persons’ Association Karri Appa Rao, youth leader K Somunaidu, former village sarpanch Venkata Ramana, former MPTC member Chepala Sriramulu and MPTC member Vasupalli Sreenu.

He demanded the government release the arrested leaders forthwith.Quoting MLA Panchakarla Ramesh Babu and Collector Pravin Kumar, the CPM leader said they both had earlier announced that the fishermen would be benefited permanently only if they were provided with employment and not with the payment of compensation as the poisonous gases and effluents would affect their catch. Despite all those assurances, he alleged that the state government is now trying to hush up the issue by paying something to the fishermen without providing necessary employment.

Even in the Brandix issue, too, the government which had promised to provide 3,000 jobs to the locals has cheated the villagers without giving employment. “Without announcing that how much package would be paid to each affected family and the provision of employment, speeding up the pipeline work is nothing but to cheat the poor fisherfolk”, Lokanadham flayed. He demanded the government stall the pipeline work, release the arrested and protect the poor fishermen families failing which the government would face the wrath of the fishermen and urged all likeminded parties to support the agitation.

To a query, Lokanadham replied that Pudimadaka village is the largest fishermen hamlet in Uttarandhra with 9,800 families as it has the biggest catchment area. He said that it should have been adopted by a public representative for development and instead the villagers will be now forced to leave the village in search of livelihood as in the case of Dibbalapalem and Gangavaram villages.