Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh fishermen wrangle over 'border' fishing; ban imposed

Tiruvallur (TN): A wrangle among fishermen of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh over plying their trade in a particular region of Pulicat lake that sprawls over both states has led the district administration to ban fishing at the troubled spot.

The region around Pulicat lake, a lagoon in the Bay of Bengal, is home to 45 traditional fishing villages and these are spread over both Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.

Villages on both sides have an age old "Padu" system, under which they take turns and rotate rights to fish in and around the demarcated lake area.

Though "Kuruvithittu" falls under Tamil Nadu, it has traditionally been common to all fishermen with some riders.

"These are arrangements among them. Some oral agreements were said to have been violated by fishers from Andhra.

Fishermen (Tamil Nadu) have complained that they are unable to fish," a senior Tiruvallur district official declining to be named said.

Following this, the district administration clamped a ban on fishing in Kuruvithittu to avoid an escalation of the problem.

"No one is allowed to fish now and it will be allowed soon after the issue is sorted out," the official added.

Personnel of the district administration have been posted in the area.

Tiruvallur District in Tamil Nadu borders Andhra Pradesh.