Villagers protest digging of fish ponds amid houses

Akiveedu: Villagers of Juvvalapalem in Kalla mandal resorted to a rasta roko on the State Highway between Bhimavaram and Elurupadu villages in West Godavari district on Sunday in protest against digging a fish tank in between the houses in the village.

The villagers alleged that Gokaraju Madhavaraju, a relative of Narsrapuram MP Gokaraju Gangaraju, with the help of police began digging the fish tank between the habitats. Drinking water tank in the village might get polluted due to fish pond, they pointed out. Due to the rasta roko, traffic was halted between Bhimavaram and Elurupadu villages.

Meanwhile, the fish pond owners said that they got permission from the government to dig fish ponds in 22 acres and the villagers are creating hurdles. The owners said that they approached the High Court and obtained the order for protection and clearance to the fish ponds digging.

The villagers after the rasta roko returned to the fish ponds digging area and squatted at the earthmover that engaged in digging. They raised slogans against fish pond owners demanded that they stop digging fish ponds in the village as their drinking water tank and groundwater might be contaminated.