Fish Workers Express Solidarity With Koodankulam Agitators
By Countercurrents.org
16 September, 2012
Countercurrents.org
Thiruvananthapuram, September 15, 2012: Activists of the Kerala Swathanthra Matsya Thozhilali Federation destroyed model of the Kudankulam nuclear power plant at a demonstration in Thiruvananthapuram
Fish workers’ bodies plan agitation, September 17 to be observed as protest day
Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) and the National Fishworkers Forum (NFF) have urged the State and Union governments to drop the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project and set up wind farms along the coast to generate power.
Addressing reporters here on Thursday, T. Peter, secretary, NFF; P.P. John, State president, KSMTF; and J.P. John, district president; questioned the motive of locating the nuclear plant in the densely populated Kudankulam coast. Highlighting the possibility of a nuclear accident as the major cause for concern, they feared that the constant discharge of hot water into the sea from the plant would deplete fish stocks.
KSMTF and NFF were embarking on a State-wide agitation from Friday to express solidarity with the ongoing stir against the project. Fish workers and their families would take out a march to the Secretariat here on Friday and stage a dharna. The agitation would be extended to other districts over the next few days. NFF would observing September 17 as protest day in New Delhi and in coastal States.
KSMTF urged the State government to adopt a stand against nuclear plants. Mr. John said the oceanarium project in Kochi showcased at the Emerging Kerala meet would pose a threat to the fisheries sector.
The office-bearers said the Chief Minister’s announcement that the coastal waters would be opened up for movement of cargo vessels had led to concern among fishermen who used gillnets along the coast from Thiruvananthapuram to Kasaragod. Mr. John urged the government to restrict the movement of cargo vessels beyond the 12-nautical-mile limit.
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