The proposed launch of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) C 12 by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) from the Sriharikota space station later this month has evoked a strong protest from local fisherman as the state government banned fishing in about 15 villages for security reasons.
The state fisheries department last week distributed pamphlets among the villages at Pazhaverkadu where around 25,000 fishermen families live, asking them not to go for fishing till April 15. The PSLV, the pamphlets warned, could be launched from Sriharikota at any time.
The fishermen from all the 15 villages concerned have already sent a joint representation to the fisheries department asking it to provide them with a livelihood assistance of Rs 200 each till the ban is lifted.
When they did not get any official response to their appeal, the fishermen families in the villages staged a demonstration at Pazhaverkadu on Friday and also hoisted black flags on top of their houses.
"We have to go for fishing every day to earn our livelihood. If they ban fishing for one or two days at the time of the launch of the rocket, we won't make it as a big issue. But preventing us from going to the sea for about two weeks will make us suffer badly," said K Bharathi, president South India Fishermen Welfare Association.
Fisheries Minister K P P Samy told The Times of India that the demand of the fishermen was completely justified and that he had already sent a file on the issue to chief minister M Karunanidhi.
"But we cannot do anything on their demand right now as the model code of conduct for the ensuing parliamentary elections is in force," the Minister said. Meanwhile, it is learnt that the ISRO has postponed the launch of the PSLV to sometime beyond April 15.
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