Foreseeing a threat to their livelihoods due to the unabated pollution of the Periyar, fishermen from Varappuzha have made it clear that they will be left with no choice but to end their lives if the condition does not improve. Worry was writ large on the faces of more than 150 fishermen from the region who marched on the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) office at Eloor from the nearby Companypady Junction on Thursday. They were protesting peacefully against the dwindling catch and fish kill caused by the rampant pollution of the river. Raising slogans such as Free the Periyar from pollutants’ and Let us live’, they stopped at the entrance to the PCB office, after which fishermen and members of the Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh (BMS) spoke at length about problems facing fishers. They highlighted issues with shrimp and fish farms taken on lease by fishers from pokkali farmers. During the six-month period, water from the Periyar flows into the pokkali fields, nourishing small fish, crabs, and shrimp harvested by fishers. Crabs and shrimp die after water released from the Pathalam bund flows in. All that remains are just shells, said Venu C.S., 58, a fisher. Most families pledge their homes and property to take paddy fields on lease, and a poor harvest of fish, crabs, or shrimp puts their livelihoods in jeopardy, said K.C. Rajan, vice president of BMS, Varappuzha unit. He added that health issues were also a matter of concern. Fishers use several methods to catch fish, and there are a few who submerge themselves in the water for the purpose. But of late, the water has been causing skin infections necessitating medical treatment, he said. While fish catch slumped due to the polluted water, the floods in August last year made the situation worse, added Mr. Venu. Incidentally, debris that came along with the floods has accumulated in the backwaters, making it shallow. As a result, nets cast also get damaged. The Periyar has become a stage for pollutants to be dumped. The PCB should prevent industrial units from dumping hazardous pollutants into the Periyar, said BMS district chief P. Jayaprakash. After the two-hour-long protest, BMS members submitted a written request to the PCB office to look into the matter. Meanwhile, environmental engineer Sreelekshmi P.B. said the PCB had not been informed of the issue at all, and that it was not aware of the impact of pollutants in the backwaters and the stretches further downstream of the river. However, she added that the request would be forwarded to the higher authorities for immediate action. A detailed study will be necessary to assess the issues, she said.