Kendrapara: The Centre issued a notification in June this year declaring 205 villages in Kendrapara and adjoining Bhadrak districts as eco-sensitive villages. However, the mushrooming of prawn gheries has posed serious threats to the survival of 147 of the villages in this district. Over 10,000 prawn gheries have illegally mushroomed in Mahakalpara, Rajnagar and Rajkanika blocks of this district, sources stated here, Tuesday The most affected is the Mahakalpara block where illegal prawn farms have come up on hundreds of acres of land in Badatubi locality.
These are adversely affecting the environment of 147 villages including Banapada, Bhuinpur, Gogua, Ishanipala, Haripur, Kajalabandha, Kalatunga, Kakatpur, Koriapala, Narasinghpur, Maladiha, Paunsiapala, Ratapanga, Sankhachita, Sasan, Singarpur, Tantiapala, Benakanda, Telanga and Panikhia. The toxic chemical effluents discharged by these gheries are not only polluting the environment but also harming human habitats, wildlife and marine creatures. Aviators and motor pumps used in these gheries are producing deafening sounds disturbing the natural tranquility and affecting wildlife inside the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary.
Various types of pesticides used in gheries are now harming marine as well as animal life, locals pointed out. The district administration’s silence on this issue is quite surprising as it has repeatedly been pulled up by the Orissa High Court. Sources informed that the Odisha government’s endeavour in promoting brackish water aquaculture is aiding in the development of illegal prawn gheries. Locals alleged that the illegal mushrooming of prawn gheries is in complete violation of the Environment Protection Act1986. Pratap Kumar Mohanty, the district convener of Odisha Suchana Adhikar Avijan (OSAA) said that the Orissa High Court has been repeatedly issuing orders for demolition of prawn gheries since 2017. It has even appointed advocate Mohit Agarwal as the Amicus Curiae in the matter. Initially armed with the high court order, the district administration issued notices to the prawn farmers and launched a demolition drive.
However, suddenly the drive was suspended and no proper reason was ordered. Many alleged that the officials of the district administration are in collusion with the illegal prawn farm owners and look after their interests only. Environmentalist Lakshmidhar Swain alleged that the illegal mushrooming of prawn gheries is in complete violation of the guidelines of the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) formed by the Water Resources and Forest departments, Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA) and Orissa High Court. The environment in these 147 villages have turned toxic due to rampant use of prawn feed, medicines and chemical fertilizers, Swain pointed out.
Local intellectual Lakshmikanta Nayak said the use of sub-standard motor pumps and aviators has resulted in 11 mishaps in the prawn gheries in the last three years. The accidents have claimed lives of one person each from Rajkanika and Rajnagar blocks while several others have suffered serious injuries. When contacted, subcollector Rabindra Kumar Pradhan said the eviction drive against the illegal prawn gheries has not stopped. He said recently illegal gheries on more than 170 acres of land in Mahakalpara and Rajkanika blocks have been demolished.
Moreover, the concerned tehsildars in each tehsil are identifying the illegal prawn gheries and demolishing them systematically, Pradhan informed. He added that efforts are on to put a curb on illegal prawn farming so that the environment can be protected.