Hatchery owners fear pollution due to KSEZ

 Kakinada: Owners of hatcheries along the Uppada coast have requested Telugu Desam national general secretary N. Lokesh to protect the hatchery industry from pollution that may spread from the Kakinada Special Economic Zone (KSEZ) in future.

They submitted a memorandum to Lokesh saying there are nearly 500 hatcheries along the coast. They underlined that hatchery industry provides foreign exchange of Rs 50,000 crore to the nation while also providing employment to lakhs of people.

The hatchery owners said their industry needs a clean environment without any pollution. But there are some polluting industries coming up in the KSEZ, which will pose an environmental threat to the hatchery industry.

Responding to their grievance, Lokesh assured that Telugu Desam will take the necessary steps after coming to power. He pointed out that TD regime had successfully promoted aqua industry in AP, which topped India by way of production. But now, prices of seed, feed and power charges have been hiked abnormally. Because of this, not only aqua, but also the hatchery industries are in dire straits, Lokesh stated.