The monsoon session of the Orissa
Assembly had witnessed uproarious
scenes on the prevailing illegal prawn
culture in the state and the consequent damages to the coastline and
mangrove forests.
The prawn mafia infiltrated
Orissa since 1991-92, from West
Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, along
Orissa's 480-km long coastline.
Within three years, it endangered the
coastline, besides adversely affecting
2,835 ha of reserve forest area and
20,000 ha of fallow land.
The prawn mafla craftily purchases few hectares of land along the
coastline, and gradually encroaches
the delta. The raising of prawn-ponds
or gheries obstructs water flow to
croplands compelling the cultivator
to sell the land to the mafia; the noncanalisation of water from them
gheries poses serious irrigation problems. About 30,000 croplands were
found to be non-usable because of
the gheries, where saltwater inflow
hampered the crop growth.
Officially, at present 6,000 gheries
are operating in Orissa, the unofficial
figure being more than 10,000. An
estimated 2,835 he of reserve forest
area including the Bhitarkanika
national park is also under the
maf ia's control.
During the Assembly session, the
government was pressuried into
agreeing to form two task forcess to
tackle this problem. These forces
would study the region stretching
from Balasore to Put!, and prepare a
report on Ganjam coastline comprising Gopalpur and Chilika.
In many coastal areas, where the
government has [eased out land to
the fisherpeople and cooperative
societies for economic growth, the
mafla rules the lands. In the
Mankadichia-Juarla river delta, pattas
for 202.5 ha of lands were issued to
the landless poor, only to be usurped
by five prawn companies.
We are a voice to you; you have been a support to us. Together we build journalism that is independent, credible and fearless. You can further help us by making a donation. This will mean a lot for our ability to bring you news, perspectives and analysis from the ground so that we can make change together.
Comments are moderated and will be published only after the site moderator’s approval. Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name. Selected comments may also be used in the ‘Letters’ section of the Down To Earth print edition.