Fishermen Want Ganesh Idols’ Immersion Halted Along Pedajalaripeta Coast
The letter highlighted that traditional boats too are getting damaged due to visitors arriving late at night for immersions stepping on the boats parked along the beach and damaging them.
Visakhapatnam: Fishermen of Pedajalaripeta and Lawsons Bay Colony have formally appealed to city police commissioner Dr. Shanka Brata Bagchi and GVMC commissioner Ketan Garg to prohibit idol immersions during Vinayakachavithi Mahotsavam and Vijayadashami Navratri in their coastal zones.
In support of their demand, they said the idol immersion is severely disrupting their traditional livelihoods and endangering marine ecology.
In their letter submitted to the two officials, fishermen highlighted that nearly 2,000 families reside in Pedajalaripeta village. For the past four years, idols installed throughout Visakhapatnam city have been routinely immersed in the waters off Pedajalaripeta and Lawsons Bay Colony.
Fishermen pointed out that many idols do not submerge fully. Instead, they accumulate along the shore. Debris from wooden frames, iron parts, and nails has caused injuries to fishermen, often requiring medical attention. Besides, the intense lighting used during immersion events disrupts marine life. Fish populations in the area decline sharply for up to three months post immersion, suggesting that chemical-laden idols are contaminating the sea.
The letter highlighted that traditional boats too are getting damaged due to visitors arriving late at night for immersions stepping on the boats parked along the beach and damaging them. Further, debris from idols in the sea is damaging the engines of their boats, which is a financial strain on fishermen.
