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'We do not want these shipbreaking activities!' - testimonies from Kakinada

Young and old fishermen, women and 'boat people' do not want the shipbreaking activities. Greenpeace supports the people of Kakinada. You can help! Read the testimonies of the fisherman's families and join them in protesting against the shipbreaking plans. Send an e-mail to the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and to the transport ministers of the European Union. They have to take care that European oil tankers do not end their sailing life on the beaches of India!

Prashad, fisherman (26)

'I am devastated by the move of the government to set up a shipbreaking yard in Kakinada. I have lived in Padyabhi village all my life, I grew up playing with my friends on the beach. My father taught me the tricks of fishing and sea behavior. Just as most people in my village I have nothing but the fishing to support my family. This sea is like a god to us.

A few years ago a small ship was beached here for breaking. During two months I couldn't fish, because I was not allowed to come in the area that was demarcated for fishing. The sea was flooded with some white material and afterwards we experienced a reduction in fish catch. Some of the floating metals even damaged our nets. We are poor people and we don't have enough money to buy new nets.

We lodged a complaint and the government stopped the shipbreaking. But now I heard that they are going to set up this business again. They say it will give us money and a job, but the last time shipbreaking made me unemployed. We can't afford to lose our income. I will strongly protest against this shipbreaking plans.'

Dowraappayyammn, fisherwoman (55)

I live in Suryaraopet village, 5 kilometers away from the shoreline. In my family are 6 members. My husband and my eldest son go fishing every night. Everyday in the morning I bring them food. I collect the fish that falls out of the nets, I have to ensure that not a single fish is wasted. Then I take a part of our fish portion and sell it, to buy rice and lentils.

We are quite happy with our earnings, though I would like to have more money so I can send my sons to school. Everyday I work on the fishing wharf for two hours. I load fishes in the trucks with my bamboo basket. I love this job, though sometimes we struggle for existence. I have done this all my life.

In recent times we caught less fish, because of the dirt that is dumped in the sea. I don't know who is responsible for this. I only know that the sea is everything for us. During the full moon day all the women from the village come out to worship the sea god so he will bless us. God will not spare whoever is making the sea dirty. They have to face the consequences.

Mr Naicker, ex politician (60)

Though I am old I will fight till I die to stop this shipbreaking from happening. I cannot allow my people to be poisoned and the environment to be polluted. For 40 years I have been a member of the legislative assembly and I have always represented the interests of the fishermen. I was made president of the fisherman cooperatives of Andhra Pradesh.

I have read all the reports on Alang shipbreaking yard and went there to see the situation. I was shocked to see the filthy conditions of the workers. This is an unacceptable transfer of responsibilities from developed to developing countries.

In Kakinada they promised jobs to the villagers, but they don't have the courage to tell people about the ill-making effects of shipbreaking. Two hundred thousand people will be affected with air and water pollution. The fish catch will be reduced to a great extent and people will face a huge financial crisis.

In 1995 I filed a petition in High Court. The court ordered the government to get consent from the local people before setting up any shipbreaking yard in any coastal area. But nothing has happened. I strongly feel that the government has cheated on us.

Malladivenkateshrallu, fisherman (60)

I belong to Manirpet village, five kilometers away from the sea. I have been fishing since childhood. My father was a respected fisherman in the area. I am the only earning member of my family of six people.

A few years ago we got a lot of dead fish, while they were cutting a Russian ship here. I believe it was due to the oil that was released. They already experimented thrice in this place. Last year government people arrived in white cars to study the possibilities of shipbreaking. They fenced the area so that villagers could not enter. We questioned them, but they didn't tell us anything.

If a new shipbreaking yard is allowed here, the local inhabitants will suffer tremendously. It will kill the fish egg formation, so we will lose our livelihoods. The regions fragile ecosystem will be disturbed and it will have a lot of impact on Hope Island, that saved us during the recent tsunami.

I strongly recommend the government and industry people not to play with our lives. We do not want this industry in Kakinada. They should not break our peace. We would go to any extent to protest against a new shipbreaking yard.

Palepuchndrarao, fisherman (23)

I was born on Hope Island and I still live there. Most people in my village are poor fishermen. I am a die-hard fisherman. But the challenges I face to support my family of five members are immense.

Our beautiful island protects the people of Kakinada from cyclones. This gift of nature to us is a big asset. But I am very afraid that Hope Island will be submerged in a few years. At least three villages on the north side of the island were already flooded. I think industrial development along the coastline is to blame, especially the construction of a deep port.

I have heard that the government is going to set up ship cutting activity along the coastline. These 200 yards in the area of 10 km is going to ruin everything we are proud of. Many birds have already stopped coming to this place. I believe after the shipbreaking activity they will completely stop coming.

All the villagers on Hope Island are now in danger of loosing their livelihoods. I am already getting less fish when I compare it year by year. I pray to God that instead of blessing us, he will make politicians understand they have to respect nature.

SAVE KAKINADA BEACH!

These Kakinada fishing families need your help to save Kakinada beach. Let the President of Andra Pradesh and the European Union know they should protect nature and the livelihood of Kakinada families. Send an email now.