Port issue may turn violent

SURAT, Nov 30: Confrontation between the agitating fishermen and police posted at Umargaon now seems imminent, with both sides hardening ...

SURAT, Nov 30: Confrontation between the agitating fishermen and police posted at Umargaon now seems imminent, with both sides hardening their stance over the construction of the proposed mega port there.

For Bandar Hatao Samiti 8212; an organisation spearheading the cause of the local fishermen 8212; has threatened to 8220;physically obstruct8221; a State-government survey to decide on the location where the proposed port could be constructed.

The survey, which began on Monday amidst heavy police deployment, could not be carried out earlier following resistance from the fishermen who feared losing their livelihood if the port 8212; to be constructed by a US-based company 8212; came up in Umargaon.

But with Valsad District Collector Pankaj Kumar now deciding to complete the remaining part of the survey, 8220;even by using force if need be8221;, the district authorities have deployed two companies of the State Reserve Police, beside the local police force, to ensure that the survey was not disrupted. Even District Superintendent of Police Hansmukh Patel is camping at Umargaon.

But talking to Express Newsline over phone, Samiti leader Col Pratap Save claimed that despite the heavy bandobast, fishermen took out a huge protest rally in Umargaon on Monday which, he said, was an indication that they were not scared of the deployment of force.

About 10,000 fishermen held a public meeting, which was addressed by former union minister Uttam Patel and former state health minister Dr K C Patel, he said, adding that they were keeping a watch on all likely sites where the the survey was to be conducted.

Asked what the fishermen planned to do if the authorities used force to carry out the survey, Save said, 8220;We would physically obstruct them from carrying out the survey.8221;

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However, in the same breath he hastened to add that fishermen, who, he claimed, were prepared for any eventualities, will remain 8220;non-violent8221;.

When asked how the authorities will react if the fishermen physically obstructed the survey, Kumar said, 8220;As long as they fishermen are within legal framework we will exercise restraint. But if they resort to physical obstruction we will have to use force.8221;

Though the Umargaon authorities had permitted the fishermen to take out a rally, the survey will be carried out as planned, he added.

Criticising the 8220;rigid attitude8221; of the fishermen, Kumar said any meaningful dialogue with them was possible only if the exact location for the proposed port is decided, which was possible only after the survey was completed.