Kendrapara: The state Lokayukta has sought clarification from the state fisheries department and Rajnagar Wildlife Division in Kendrapara on giving permission for establishment of prawn gheries in eco-sensitive zone of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary, a report said.
The Lokayukta has asked the director of state fisheries department at Cuttack and divisional forest officer of Rajnagar Wildlife Division to personally appear before it in its office at Bhubaneswar February 7, 2022 and submit their report in this regard.
Reports said that permission was given to M/s Falcon Marine Exports Ltd and M/s Odisha Aqua Traders and Marine Exports Pvt Ltd for establishment of prawn gheries at Jagatjor and Banapda areas under Mahakalapara block of the district which are eco-sensitive zones.
Meanwhile, M/s Falcon Marine had withdrawn from its project at Jagatjor while M/s Odisha Aqua Traders is on its way for establishment of prawn gheri at Banapada area. The move by Lokayukta has landed the state fisheries department, Rajnagar DFO and the two prawn farms in soups.
Sources said that the state government granted 15 years lease to the two farms for establishment of prawn gheries at Jagatjor and Banapada, September 2016.
The then state agriculture minister Pradip Maharathi speaking in state Assembly had said that the two prawn gheries will be established over 433 hectare of lands and the state government will earn revenue of Rs 13 crore from them.
However, many environmentalists objected to the establishment of the two prawn gheries as both Jagatjor and banapada areas under Mahakalapara blocks come under the eco-sensitive zone of Bhitarkanika wildlife sanctuary. They alleged that the effluents to be discharged from these two prawn gheries will destroy the environment and the sea water.
Objecting to the establishment of prawn gheries, former right activist late Ranjan Kumar Das of Kendrapara filed a petition (LY 170/2020) in the Lokayukta. Das was former district convenor of a rights body Odisha Suchana Adhikar Aain Abhiyan.
The Lokayukta heard the matter December 21 and questioned grant of permission to Odisha Aqua Traders for establishment of a prawn gheri. The order has stated the state fisheries sdepartment at Cuttack has submitted a report, October 4.
The report says that lease deed of M/s Falcon Marine has been cancelled as it was on Jagatjor which is a eco-sensitive zone. However, the report is silent on the prawn gheri established by M/S Odisha Aqua Traders. The Lokayukta has directed the state fisheries director to issue a fresh notice to Odisha M/s Odisha Aqua Traders.
Moreover, the Lokayukta has also questioned the Rajnagar DFO on giving permission for establishment of prawn gheries in areas under eco-sensitive zones. Notably, both Jagatjor and Banapada are around 500 metres from the sea coast