Overview

• Fishermen and family members in Andhra Pradesh’s Kakinada district halted traffic by blocking the road in Uppada to protest alleged chemical discharge into the sea.
• Police and Revenue officials had not permitted the demonstration, and efforts to persuade protesters to lift the blockade failed.
• Protesters demanded action against polluting industrial units, relocation of the alleged offenders, and compensation for every family in the coastal area.
• Participants included large contingents from Uppada and nearby villages, with many women carrying placards calling for immediate government intervention.
• Demonstrators vowed to continue until they receive a clear assurance from authorities, citing an earlier protest that turned violent last year over a pharma pipeline and reported fish deaths.