Xi-Modi visit: 12,500 families to be affected by clampdown in Mahabs

Even as the State administration is gearing up for the meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi-Jinping in the seaside town of Mahabalipuram from October 11-13, thousands of fishermen and local businessmen claim that they are facing livelihood issues due to the security clampdown.

The fishermen claimed that they have been informed by the district administration to restrict all near shore and offshore activities from October 4.

According to sources in the district administration, approximately 10 fishing villages that house more than 12,500 families are likely to be affected by this clampdown. Besides, the local fish market alone has around 100 shops where the fresh catch is sold in wholesale rates which is later sold to retailers. Locals claimed that at least 1,000 businesses of fish and others, will be affected by the security beef up.

“Fishing is our only source of income. If we are prevented from going to the sea for 10 days, it means we would not be working at all during that period. We live on a day to day basis and being without work for 10 days will affect us badly. Who will take care of our losses?” said Kumaran, a fisherman from Mahabalipuram.

The clampdown imposed on all nearshore activities, which was initially announced from September 22 in view of the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Mahabalipuram, has now been postponed to October 4. That, however, has not made the fishermen, tourist operators and others whose livelihood is dependent on such activities any happier.

According to a State directive, no one can swim, paddle, surf or dive in the 20 km stretch from Kovalam to Mahabalipuram from October 4.

“We understand the security concerns but asking us not to go about our vocation is not fair,” said Divya, who runs a surfing school at Kovalam. “Though the clampdown has now been reduced to 10 days, it is still a loss for us because we don’t receive any compensation. This is the peak time for us, as many people would come for surfing in the sea every day. Among them, many are getting trained for participating in various competitions. If we close our school for 10 days, we would face many hardships,” she said. The restrictions have also affected several local residents operating home stay facilities, who have also been asked not to take in any unknown persons.

According to a fisherman from Mahabalipuram, he was asked by the local police personnel not to venture into the sea from October and also close the game stall that he used to run on the beach in the afternoons. “I don’t know how I would run my family during that period,” he said on condition of anonymity.

The local fishermen added that the government should extend some allowance to them so that they would not face any hardship to run their families. According to K Ramesh, vice president of the fishermen association in Kovalam, the outfit took the decision to demand compensation for livelihood loss due to the restrictions. “We will put forth a formal request to the district administration soon,” he said.