Fishermen protest against hydrocarbon exploration at Arockiapuram

Fishermen staging a demonstration at Arockiapuram beach in Kanniyakumari district.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Fishermen and their families staged a demonstration on Saturday at the Arockiapuram beach near Kanniyakumari, opposing the Central government’s proposal for hydrocarbon exploration off the Kanniyakumari coast.

Strong opposition against the project has been growing among the fishermen communities and environmental activists in the region. As a result, a series of demonstrations are being organised across various coastal villages. The protest began a few days ago in Chinnamuttom area and has now spread to the Arockiapuram region.

During the protest, the fishermen urged the Central government to immediately withdraw the exploration project.

“Any project that destroys the nature, environment, and livelihood of the fishermen should be revoked immediately. Only then the lives of people who depend on the sea and shore will continue peacefully. Until the withdrawal of the exploration project, our protest will continue,” said the Parish Priest of Arockiapuram.

Hundreds of men and women from the region participated in the protest, which was led by Arockiapuram Parish vice-president Amalraj. The demonstrators held placards and raised slogans such as “The sea is our mother, the coast is her lap, don’t destroy them.”

The members of the Coastal Peace and Development Committee said that the demonstration movement will continue and will be taken to every coastal village in the district to raise awareness among the local people. They added that if the government fails to revoke the project, the protest will intensify into district-level and eventually State-level movements.