Clam collectors a worried lot
The Hindu
Fisheries Department pushes annual ban on harvest to January
With the stock hitting an all-time low, clam collectors of Ashtamudi were a worried lot in 2019. The year 2020 offered no solace, but by then they could identify some visible changes in the estuarine ecosystem.
And today, their worst fears have come true as the fluctuations in hydrographic parameters have affected the spawning season of yellow clams (Paphia malabarica). Normally, the annual three-month ban on harvest begins in December, but inconsistent salinity and surface temperature has forced the Fisheries Department to push it to January.
The election authorities are gearing up for the counting of votes cast in the simultaneous elections to Lok Sabha and Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh, scheduled to be held on June 4. The Collectors and Election Officers of Visakhapatnam, Anakapalli and Alluri Sitharama Raju (ASR) districts said on May 23 (Thursday) that their teams were ready for the counting of votes.
Responding to the prolonged water scarcity, the residents of the area took to the streets in protest on Wednesday. The protest, which drew attention to their plight, stopped only after the intervention of the police. It was not until 1.30 p.m. that a 4000-litre tanker was finally delivered by BWSSB, providing relief to the water-starved residents.