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NAC aspirants on trail of fishermen

BERHAMPUR: Lack of livelihood due to low pressures in sea during monsoon and the cyclones following it compels the marine fishermen of Gopalpur to migrate out of the State in search of work.

But the candidates contesting the election for the Gopalpur Notified Area Council (NAC) from fishermen dominated wards are spending money to call back these migrant fishermen from far off places like Rajahmundry and Mumbai. The yield from the sea has dwindled and the fishermen of this coastal tourist resort do not have any additional source of income.

Monsoon season and two months following it are considered appalling days by the marine fishermen. They are refrained from entering the sea during continuous low pressures formed over the Bay of Bengal during the monsoons. It is followed by a series of cyclonic storms on the Orissa coast during the month October and November. According to K.Jayaraj, convener of the Kalinga fishermen’s union usually the fishermen of this coast prefer to migrate during these months as their traditional boats remain on the beach most of the days during these months due to vagaries of the climate.

He added that the fishermen of the coast also lose livelihood for 10 days on an average every month due to the missile testing of the Army Air Defence College (AADC), Gopalpur. During this time the fishermen of the area are barred from entering the sea.

But the fishermen are yet to get any compensatory package from the Indian Army although their livelihood is affected by the firing of antiaircraft missiles.

So, rainy season is the migratory season for large number of these marine fishermen who search for work in trawlers on other coasts outside the State .

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