Fish workers allege diversion of tsunami funds http://www.hindu.com/2007/10/20/stories/2007102051030200.htm Thiruvananthapuram: Plans by Kerala Tourism and the Harbour Engineering Department to construct an artificial reef in Kovalam, using funds from the Central Government-assisted Tsunami Rehabilitation Project, have come under fire from the fishing community. This is a clear cut case of tsunami funds being diverted for the benefit of the tourism industry in the State, says Kerala Swathantra Matsya Thozhilali Federation (KSMTF) president T. Peter. We are raising fundamental questions here. Who wants the reef and why? And are there any benefits for the fishing community, he asked. A press note issued by the federation said a New Zealand-based marine consultancy firm, Amalgamates Solutions and Research Ltd (ASR), was being commissioned to construct a 500-metre long artificial reef adjacent to the Kovalam beach at a cost of Rs.4 crore. Tourism department officials claim that the primary purpose of the artificial reef will be to break waves, thereby mitigating the potential impacts of another tsunami. They maintain that the reef made of geo-textile would help promote tourism activities such as water skiing, surfing and swimming. According to them, the area encircled by the reef can be used as a fish breeding ground, Mr. Peter said. KSMTF argues that fishing communities in Kovalam are likely to lose their livelihoods as a result of the project. Community-based shore-seine fishing in the area will be curtailed and at least 500 people will lose their livelihood. The fish breeding ground will be used for sport fishing by tourists and will be of little use to the local fish workers, said Mr. Peter. He also demanded an investigation into the role of the Centre for Earth Science Studies (CESS) in supporting the project. The ASR website has a CESS senior scientist and ASR Managing Director Dr. Kerry Black as co-authors of a paper. The support extended to the project by CESS needs to be examined in detail, he added. KSMTF called upon the government for a careful, evidence-based risk assessment of the potential social, economic and environmental benefits of artificial reefs. It also wanted a scientific evaluation of the potential impact of the reef on neighbouring villages like Vizhinjam and Panathura. http://www.keralafishworkers.org http://www.alakal.net --~--~---------~--~----~------------~-------~--~----~ You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send email to greenyouth@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB -~----------~----~----~----~------~----~------~--~---
