Sambalpur: The government’s plan to promote cage fish farming in Hirakud reservoir is may disastrously affect livelihood of thousands of fishermen in three western Odisha districts. Fishermen alleged that the cage fish farming is being planned in the reservoir and this will be handed over to a private company.
Addressing a presser, Gopinath Majhi of Hirakud Budi Anchal Sangram Samiti, said that the government is planning to introduce cage fish farming in reservoir which will be later handed over to the private companies.
“If this plan is put into use, then 8,810 fishermen of Bargarh, Jharsuguda and Sambalpur districts will lose their age-old livelihood,” lamented Majhi.
He pointed out that thousands of people were displaced when the dam project was executed, but till date many displaced families have not been given compensation.
“After leaving their home and hearth, scores of families found fishing a livelihood in the Hirakud reservoir. But now, the government is doing something that will take away their livelihood. Sales and purchase of fish in the local market will fall into a stalemate,” rued Majhi.
Many youths engaged in the fishing sector will be rendered jobless.
Earlier, 126 species of fishes used to be found in the reservoir, but over years, their number has come down to 15 due to pollution in the water, he said. People had lost their land for the dam and now they are going to lose their livelihood, he alleged.
PNN
