Workers protest illegal filling of Vembanad Lake near Valanthakadu Island

Tripunithura: Workers led by Fishermen's Union (CITU) protested on Friday against the move to fill a portion of Vembanad Lake near Valanthakadu Island. An individual is carrying out illegal construction by filling a portion of the lake under the guise of fish farming, they alleged.The portion, which is more than 8 acres, is in an area known as Kokuthuruth, and construction is under way. As part of the protest, led by union area secretary E G Pushpan, president P K Sabu, leaders C M Santhosh, V G Ratheesh, V T Kamalasanan, T P Babu and others, the workers cordoned off the area. According to protesters, concrete poles and iron pipes were lowered into the lake and tied with netting. However, after preparing a platform using pipes in the backwater, a shed was built on it using iron sheets and a board was also installed carrying the name of the project. The violators allegedly used the name of Chellanam Matsya Bhavan without the knowledge of the fisheries department to hoodwink the locals, they said. However, the authorities of matsya bhavan informed that the fisheries department did not issue a licence for conducting captive fish farming in the lake. The leaders also informed that they filed a complaint with the fisheries minister, district collector, deputy director of fisheries and others regarding the incident. "As a next step, we are also planning to move legally after getting legal advice from our district secretary Yesudas Parappilly," Pushpan.