A large number of fishermen under the aegis of fishermen joint action committee have staged ‘dharna’ in front of the collectorate here on Monday in protest against the government’s action for issuing GO no : 217 for online auctioning of the fishing tanks. The protesters raised slogans denouncing the government, saying it would help the bigwigs bringing misery to lakhs of fishermen. Addressing the protesters former MLA Vanamadi Kondababu said that fishermen belonging to 3500 fishermen cooperative societies were depending upon these 3415 fishing tanks for eking their livelihood. He alleged that the state governments decision would be disastrous as over forty lakh fishermen would be deprived of their livelihood .Later, a delegation comprising action committee state convener Ampolu Satyanarayana, fishermen association leaders Karri Chittibabu, Nagidi Nageswerarao, Vadrevu Virababu, Tummala Ramesh met the DRO Sathibabu and presented a memorandum demanding immediate withdrawal of the controversial GO no : 217 and save lakhs of fishermen from distress.