The AMMKS wants the oil company to compensate fishermen from Mumbai, Vasai, Dahanu and Palghar with Rs500 crore.
The Akhil Maharashtra Macchimar Kriti Samiti (AMMKS) has alleged that the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) has infringed on the livelihood of fishermen. The allegation is directed at a recent seismic survey undertaken by the ONGC.
The AMMKS wants the oil company to compensate fishermen from Mumbai, Vasai, Dahanu and Palghar with Rs500 crore.
Samiti president Damoder Tandel said, "For the past five months, we have been suffering heavily due to insufficient catch. Many fishermen are starving... this is because of the continuous seismic survey undertaken by the ONGC, which impairs hearing abilities of fish (and results in them dying faster)."
Areas where the survey is being conducted is out of bounds for fishermen till its completion, after which there isn't a lot left for them to catch.
Seismic surveys are used to locate offshore oil and gas deposits below the ocean floor. It involves the use of sonic cannons or airguns to shoot compressed air to the ocean floor, creating sound waves that map oil and gas reserves. Exploration involves blasts every 10-12 seconds in areas for weeks or months on end. Each blast is nearly 252dB, ie 1,00,000 times louder than a jet engine, and reverberates through the ocean and the auditory organs of sea creatures.
The ONGC has been carrying out this survey for the past five months at various locations along Maharashtra's coastal line.
"In the past three months, there were 32 instances of dead dolphins. Other species of fish have been affected as well, as have the livelihoods of fishermen. We depend on the sea for our bread and butter. If that is being taken away, how can we survive? We have no option but to stand up for our livelihood and plead with the government that this method be banned," said Sanjay Silvester Koli AMMKS vice president.
A senior ONGC official, who did not wish to be identified, said, "I'm not aware about this issue, but the ONGC always takes care of the environmental aspect. That is our first priority. All of our technology is state-of-the-art and used only after ensuring that there will be no environmental casualty."
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