Nellore, November 08: The ‘Come-what-may we will not budge from here’ attitude of the fishermen with regard to evacuation due to rains, has left the officials in a fix. Fishermen in Mypadu, Pallepalem, Gangapatnam and Kudhithipalem in Indukurpet mandal curtly told the officials that they will not leave their houses when the evacuation for safety was suggested. The officials’ efforts trying to convince them with explanation of the cyclone threat went in vain.
In Mypadu, the officials led by Tahasildar Ramakrishna returned disappointed when the fishermen did not respond to his repeated requests for shifting to safer places.
Janardhan, the Peddkapau (leader) of the fishermen, whose word is the rule in the village told the officials that cyclones are not new to them. They are wary of shifting to shelters arranged by the district administration and they fear thefts of valuables in their homes while they are away, he explained. Also he expressed distrust for the inadequate facilities provided by the government.
“We are accustomed to a free life here and feel uncomfortable at the cyclone shelters” he said. Others also echoed the same view and said that even during the Tsunami they did not vacate their villages and the cyclone was not a thing to be feared.
Officials had to face the hostile fishermen community also at Vakadu, Dugarajapatnam, Allur and other coastal mandals in the district. However, the officials with great difficulty, were able to convince the fishermen on the banks of Bakingham canal.
District superintendent of police E Damodhar, in an effort to allay the fears of the fishermen told them that police pickets will be organised in the villages to prevent thefts if they agreed to move to safer places.
Meanwhile, a eight-member team of NDMRF headed by DS Mahapatra moved to Indukurpet while batches of NDMRF were sent to other high-risk coastal mandals for relief and rescue operations.
–Agencies