Baliapal: The prawn mafia has grabbed hundreds of acres of government, pasture and forest lands and is operating illegal prawn gherries at Jambirai, Panchupalli and Bolang panchayats in the Baliapal block of Balasore, a report said.
This has angered the public and they have accused the administration of taking no action against the prawn mafia. They said the mafia has been carrying out its illegal business with the help of influential persons and has dug ponds everywhere. Those who oppose the mafia are threatened.
Prawn gherries have come up near rivers, creeks and even canals, blocking the flow of water into the sea.
During monsoons, the water logging caused by gherries damages the paddy crop. But the administration is taking no action against the prawn mafia, local farmers said.
Illegal Gherries:
- Illegal prawn farms have mushroomed near Jambirai, Hanskara, Ichhapur, Bolang and Saudi
- During monsoons, the water logging caused by gherries damages the paddy crop
- Consequently, paddy farmers are unwilling to take up farming
In this riparian area, rivers, creeks and canals open into the Bay of Bengal. In the last few years, a large number of prawn gherries have been set up in these areas.
The polluted water and effluents from prawn farms have severely damaged paddy cultivation in the area and air pollution is also common.
As per the Coastal Regulation Act, no illegal activities are allowed within two kilometres of the sea. The prawn mafia has thrown the law to the winds.
Another problem is that with the help of local fishermen, the prawn mafia catch prawn seedlings near the mouth of the Hanskara river.
Illegal prawn farms have mushroomed near Jambirai, Hanskara, Ichhapur, Bolang and Saudi. In some areas, paddy farmers are unwilling to take up farming as the administration has failed to curb the prawn mafia.
Acres of land have been illegally occupied in many other areas too. “The dirty, noxious water and effluents from the gherries not only pollute water, but also foul up the atmosphere. The result is that people are affected by diseases,” a villager said.
They said the canal water is now more used by prawn gherry owners than by paddy farmers. The chemical-laced water from prawn gherries is released into canals and creeks. If domestic animals drink this contaminated water they develop diseases.
Local farmers have demanded immediate action against the polluting prawn gherries. The tehsildar said that action will be taken against the prawn mafia if complaints were filed.