Tulunada Rakshana Vedike's fight against fish vehicles gets starry support

A year after launching a joint drive with the police against fish transporting vehicles, the Tulunada Rakshana Vedike is gearing up for a second round of drive.

This time, the Vedike has found support in upcoming model cum Tulu film actor Pooja Shetty of ‘Dombarata’ fame. Announcing this to media on Tuesday here, Vedike founder-president Yogesh Shetty Jeppu said the Vedike will set a deadline of one week from Tuesday for the authorities to act against the vehicles transporting fish in open containers. The vehicles, irrespective of lorries and goods autorickshaws, spill water on the roads, mainly highways, thus turning the roads slippery, leading to mishaps in the recent past. Moreover, timely aggressive action is the need of the hour, with city on the cusp of becoming a ‘Smart City’ and recently finding a place in Swacch Bharat rankings, said Shetty.

He said, when the drive was held previously near Morgan’s Gate Junction on August 5, 2016, the city police had stopped 28 such vehicles during inspection. Following this, the fish transporters had also mend their ways. All was fine for six months, after which, the menace recurred and has reached its peak now.

Phone-in complaints

In a recent weekly phone-in programme at the police commissioner’s office, the issue was brought to the notice of authorities. It is imperative to act, with over 1,000 vehicles transporting fish in open containers from the old port to neighbouring Kerala, passing through Pandeshwar, Emmekere, Monkey Stand, Mangaladevi, Morgans Gate, Jappinamogaru, Thokkottu and Ullal. Similarly, some of the vehicles operate from Bajpe side towards Kerala.

Shetty alleged that while such vehicles transport fish in open containers till Talapady (Karnataka-Kerala border), they close the same, soon after entering Kerala, fearing action from Kerala authorities. He suggested building sumps off highways to release such fish water or collect the water in drums and dispose the same at dedicated locations.

Model cum actor Pooja Shetty of ‘Dombarata’ Tulu film fame said such civic issues can be addressed only when the people develop a broad mindset for the cause of society. However, it takes a back seat owing to disparaging attitude among some section of the people, she said with disappointment.