Kendrapara: It has been a year since the Bhitarkanika National Park was excluded by the UNESCO from the list of World Heritage sites, the authorities do not seem to have woken up to the reasons behind this.
Large scale encroachments under the very nose of the authorities have resulted in destruction of the national park’s natural environment.
A team from UNESCO which had visited Bhitarkanika claimed that large scale encroachments of forest land will pose problems in future. The Orissa High Court had directed the district administration to demolish the illegal prawn gheries and remove the encroachments.
The situation has become so acute with the ghat of river Gobari in Kansapal village in Baulakani panchayat under Mahakalapara block has turned into a hub of marine fish trade despite the area coming under the prohibited zone of the park.
The forest officials instead of demolishing the illegal prawn gheries are themselves getting involved in the trade. A social activist Ranjan Das has alleged that various types of marine fish worth lakhs of rupees are supplied daily from this river ghat to Kolkata.
The daily trade of marine fish has threatened the existence of riverside villages and the mangrove forests in Bhitarkanika. The activist has lodged a complaint in this regard with the District Collector demanding his intervention.
He has alleged that large size trawlers from Kolkata, Balasore and other places daily anchor in this river ghat. The movement of the trawlers often leads to collapse of the riverbanks resulting in panic among riparian villagers.
This place is just 5 km away from Jamboo forest range office and 5.5 km from the marine police station. However, the fishermen and traders carry their business with impunity without fear of legal action.
The forest department has failed to resolve the problem with more and more forest land coming under encroachment during the last one year. This has pushed the aquatic animals and wildlife into danger and led to destruction of the fragile ecosystem.
Ramesh Sethy of Tantiapal village said trawler owners from outside the district prefer to use the Kansapal river ghat for fish trade despite construction of a jetty near the Jamboo lock. This has destroyed the Jambu Jagatjor river embankment road.
Pratyush Nayak of Rajnagar said the protectors have turned predators as forest personnel were found raising prawn gheries at Satabhaya Junus Nagar and Barunei forest within the national park limits.
The matter came to the fore when collector Reghu G visited the sanctuary and ordered for demolition of prawn gheries July 4.
When contacted, the Collector said the administration is resolved to remove illegal prawn gheries in the national and in other parts of the district.
PNN