Forum urges govt. to address concerns of fishermen on Karaikal Port master plan

The National Fisherfolk Forum has urged the Puducherry government to withhold the environmental clearance given to the proposed master plan of Karaikal Port, till the concerns of fishermen in the region are addressed.

In a letter to the Chief Secretary, District Collector-cum-District Magistrate, Karaikal, Regional Director, Central Pollution Control Board, and other concerned agencies, chairman of the forum and former MLA M. Ilango said the fishermen community in Karaikal and Nagapattinam district of Tamil Nadu were concerned about the impact of further development of the port.

The draft of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) had stated that the project was only at the public hearing stage. Therefore, the concerns of the fishermen should be examined by the competent authorities before any decision on the EIA was taken.