Koya Tribe Faces End of Traditional Fishing Amid Polavaram Project
Koya tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram district are engaging in their final traditional fishing practices using the 'Pander Valla' net. This ancient method faces extinction as the Polavaram irrigation project's submergence area threatens to displace villages and alter their ancestral
Key takeaways
- Koya tribal communities in Andhra Pradesh are practicing traditional fishing with the 'Pander Valla' net.
- This ancient fishing method is threatened by the submergence of villages due to the Polavaram irrigation project.
- The 'Pander Valla' is a unique, hand-held net designed for deep, fast-flowing floodwaters.
- Displacement plans for the Polavaram project may relocate communities away from riverine environments.
Koya tribal people in Andhra Pradesh are pursuing their traditional fishing practices in the Godavari River's floodwaters for what they believe may be the last time. This activity, centered around the use of a specialized net called the 'Pander Valla', is under threat due to the impending submergence caused by the Polavaram irrigation project.
The Pander Valla, a rectangular net constructed with bamboo poles, is a time-honored tool passed down through generations in the Godavari Valley. It is specifically designed for capturing large fish in deep, fast-flowing waters, particularly during flood periods when fish are carried downstream. This fishing method is common among Koya communities in areas spanning Andhra Pradesh's Polavaram district, Telangana's Khammam district, and Chhattisgarh's Sukma district.
The Sabari River, a significant tributary, enters Andhra Pradesh near Chintoor in the Polavaram district. During the monsoon floods, Koya men utilize the Pander Valla along the riverbanks and streams to catch fish. The net's design allows a single person to operate it effectively in challenging water conditions.
Pandrum Seetayya, a Koya fisherman, explained that the Pander Valla utilizes traditional knowledge to trap substantial fish even in high-velocity floodwaters. He noted its effectiveness in the Godavari Valley for capturing fish migrating downstream from the Godavari, Sabari, and Sileru rivers.
This fishing practice is distinct from traditional hunting during festivals like Bhumi Panduga, which marks the start of the agricultural season.
Sodi Murali, a former secretary of the Adivasi Sankshema Parishad and an anthropologist, highlighted the Pander Valla's significance as a symbol of the deep connection between Koya tribal life and the rivers. However, he expressed concern that this tradition is nearing its end. Mr. Murali pointed out that the rehabilitation and resettlement plan for the Polavaram project is relocating displaced individuals to areas lacking rivers, potentially severing their ancestral ties to aquatic environments.
As the government conducts surveys to identify villages within the Polavaram irrigation project's submergence zone, Koya communities are intensifying their fishing activities, recognizing this as a potential final opportunity to practice their heritage.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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