Plea to Isro: Open inlet at Pulicat Lake

Nellore: Worried over the dwindling marine stocks in Pulicat Lake, the fisherfolk have now turned to the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) for help. The inlet to Pulicat, the second biggest brackish water lake in India, was blocked by the space centre at Sriharikota, for scientific purposes. “The closure has stopped migration of fish and flow of water from the sea into the lake,” explains a fisherman, Munivelu of Venadu Island. “We urge space scientists to come to our rescue,” he says. Venadu is one of the 19 fishermen hamlets located in near SHAR. While experiments at the centre has revolutionised technology, particularly in the communication sector, about 30,000 fisherfolk residing in villages around it continue to live sans basic infrastructure.

On the 3,000-people-strong Irakam Island, for instance, there is no medical centre. They have to rush to Tada or Sullurpet, about 10 km away, during emergencies. Cost of each trip: at least Rs 1,000 by boat.

Though a bridge project was sanctioned, it hasn’t taken off yet. The 350-metre-long bridge will give us direct road access to Sullurpet town,” says fisherwoman, Ponnemma.