Vikramaditya & Ganeshan
Baratang, Jan 02: The fishermen community of Baratang region is presently facing extreme mental agony and financial losses as they are neither allowed to go for fishing in the Middle Strait nor are they allowed to pass through the Middle Strait towards the sea on the both sides of the Island.
The reason behind this is that the Middle Strait is reportedly notified as Tribal Reserve area and the hence the fishermen are now facing legal issues to operate their dinghies in the Middle Strait.
Since last several decades, fishermen of Baratang Island have been fishing in the Middle Strait without any kind of restrictions but now to their utter dismay, suddenly they have been told that the Middle Strait comes under Tribal Reserve area and hence they cannot pass through the Middle Strait.
Now fearing legal actions the fishermen are not able to go for fishing which is directly hitting their livelihood hard. Because of the ongoing pandemic, lockdowns and because of movement restrictions since last nearly two years these fishermen have been facing huge financial problems and now this new restriction is pushing them further towards extreme poverty.
The ex-Zilla Parishad Member of Baratang Island and also the ex- up-Adhyaksh of North and Middle Andaman Zilla Parishad, Mr. R Alager Swami highlighted this matter with Secretary of Tribal Welfare Department at Baratang Guest House yesterday.
The Secretary of Tribal Welfare reportedly assured Mr. R Alager Swami that this matter will be discussed with the Fisheries Department very shortly and necessary actions will be taken.
