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Support Dalits' Call Against Aquaculture
The Honourable Manmohan Singh
Prime Minister of India
New Delhi
The Honourable M. Karunanidhi
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu
Chennai
Member Secretary
Aquaculture Authority
Chennai
The Chairman
Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board
Chennai
The Honourable President
President of India
Office of the President
New Delhi
Shri A. Raja
Ministry of Environment and Forest
New Delhi
The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes
New Delhi
The National Commission for Women
New Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission
New Delhi
Thiru Pradeep Yadav IAS
District Collector
Collectorate
Tamil Nadu
Sirs:
I read with interest the article titled "Against All Odds: A Dalit Village's Fight Against Industrial Aquaculture" pertaining to the struggle of Dalit villagers against the Chinna Aqua Farm in Kolathur, Kanchipuram District. ()
The story outlines how an aquaculture entrepreneur's farm that is located contravening a number of mandatory guidelines of successive Aquaculture Authority regulations was not only permitted by the authorities, but also protected from the ire of local residents whose health and the only means of survival - fishing - was being devastated by pollution from the farm. The stories about state brutality against the Dalit residents of Kolathur for expressing their frustration against an illegal industrial activity that was affecting them is unpardonable. The article is a telling story of how caste discrimination raises its ugly head in the modern day context.
The offending aquaculture farm - Chinna Aqua Farms - is located on agricultural land, barely 100 metres from human habitation and drinking water sources. No monitoring of effluents, stocking densities or inputs used in the farm seems to be happening. Indeed, members of an international Fact Finding Team report having seen bright-yellow-coloured effluent water, and empty sacks of chemical inputs strewn around the farm. This blatant illegality aside, it is unclear whether the farm even applied for a renewal of its authorisation post March 2007 when its earlier authorisation expired. Such application, if approved, would once again constitute a violation of the very Act - Coastal Aquaculture Authority Act -- under which the permission is granted.
It is pitiable that an indigent community fighting to save itself from starvation by protecting its livelihood resource base is victimised by the District Administration and the Police.
Through this letter, I appeal to you to honestly evaluate the siting of the aquaculture farm, cancel its registration and rehabilitate damaged lands and groundwater. Also, the cases filed against the villagers of Kolathur to intimidate them and pressure them to stop their agitation against the shrimp farm must be withdrawn. Many families are being pushed into destitution due to the costs of attending court hearings every month.
Sincerely,
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