Chhatrapur: Inclement weather triggered by a low-pressure in Bay of Bengal snatched away the livelihood of fishermen in this part of the state as they leave the state to work as migrant labourers, a report said Saturday.
While some working here as labourers here many have left for outside the state to work as migrant labourers at various fish processing units.
The fishermen have stopped going to sea for fishing with the port authorities hoisting the danger signal-3 in the port. The sea remaining turbulent for last three days has prevented them from fishing.
Moreover, their fish catch had dwindled over last eight days before the low-pressure.
They are now going without work and do not know when the sea will become calm and they will leave for fishing. This has hit them hard as they ponder over how to manage their families in the absence of fishing.
Sources said the fishermen villages are spread from Prayagi to Patisunpur on Ganjam coast where members of the community eke out their living by fishing in the sea.
Many of them do not have funds to buy boats and fishing nets forcing them to work as help in other boats. They earn their livelihood with whatever they get as their share.
However, the repeated onslaught of natural calamities has affected their livelihood.
Their problems could be easily comprehended if one goes around Bada Aryapalli, Prayagi, Podampeta, Bada Nolia Nuagaon, Sana Nolia Nuagaon, Gopalpur, Patisunpur, Kataru, Kantiagada villages of fishermen. They are in such a position that they do not have a safe place to store their fishing nets and boats.
The Gopalpur Port has a fishing jetty but it has proved unsuitable as the channel has become shallow due to heavy siltation.
The state government’s plan to construct a new fishing jetty between Bada Aryapalli and Sana Aryapalli still hangs fire. They have drawn the attention of the district administration to excavate the channel but in vain.
They got good catch near the Gopalpur Port but now they have been prevented from going there as ships berth inside. PNN
