THE Madras High Court has restrained the authorities concerned from preventing fishermen in Ennore and Pulicat areas from carrying on fishing activities during the on fishing activities during the launch of rockets. A division bench compris ing Justices Elipe Dharma Rao and K K Sashidharan granted the injunction while passing interim orders on a public interest writ petition from the South Indian Fish ermen Federation, repre sented by its president Jayabalan, on Thursday. According to the petition er, whenever a rocket was launched from Sriharikotta by the Indian Space Re search Organisation (ISRO), the Fisheries department issued orders banning the fishermen from venturing into the sea for periods ranging from 15 to 20 days. The main livelihood of the local people living in Ennore and Pulicat areas was fishing. They sent a representation on April 6, 2009 to the authorities concerned to pay compen sation during the period. But there was no response. Hence, the present writ petition. The interim prayer was to restrain the authorities concerned from prevent ing fishermen from in dulging in fishing activi ties. The main prayer was for a direction to the gov ernment to pay compen sation during the ban pe riod. Life plunges into sea People across India look forward to rocket launches from Sriharikota. But for thousands of fishermen in 17 hamlets along a stretch near Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border, it is just another bleak day Over 25,000 fishermen living on the Palaverkadu (Pulicat lake) stretch are not allowed to ventured into sea for 10 to 20 days during rocket launches citing security reasons Neither the State Government nor the ISRO management gives compensation to fishermen Passing interim orders on a public interest writ petition, the Madras HC had in March directed the TN Chief Secretary to pass orders within six weeks on the proposal to compensate the fishermen