Paradip, Sept. 3: Orissa Human Rights Commission has issued a showcause notice to Jagatsinghpur district administration seeking a report on the measures initiated to protect the fishermen community’s interest. The plight of inland fishermen’s livelihood is at stake due to the oil refinery project here.
Work on the oil refinery project, being executed by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), would affect the livelihood of inland fishermen as the oil major is involved in a series of constructions in and around Mahanadi river and other water bodies.
These structures, aimed at laying underground pipelines, would stop free flow of water. This, according to fishermen, would result in a drop in their catch.
“The district administration has received the human rights’ panel notice. The administration is aware of the issues and problems being confronted by the fishermen. The ameliorative measures have already been initiated. We will apprise the commission about the steps being taken,” said Narayan Chandra Jena, Jagatsinghpur collector.
The issue had been taken up with the IOCL. It had agreed to pay compensation to traditional inland fishermen who have been adversely affected by the project. In fact, it has started paying the compensation money to the enlisted fishermen, said an official.
“The proposed bridges over Patakana rivulet, a tributary of Mahanadi river, would plug the free flow of water and thereby drastically reduce our catch,” said a fisherman.
The aggrieved fishermen had earlier approached Orissa High Court stating that artificial barriers would harm the livelihood of thousands of fishermen in and around Paradip. The high court had observed that the company should address the issue of loss of livelihood of the fishermen.
“About 5,000 fishermen families from Gopiakuda, Kaliapata, Taladanda, Duadia, Kabalpur, Hansina, Bariha Gandakipur, Fatehpur, Bishali, Paradipgada and Mangarajpur would be affected. Besides the fishermen communities have legal rights for fishing in the water body as the district administration has leased out many water bodies for fishing against payment of annual premium,” said Pitambar Tarei, a rights activist.
