The battle is on

SHRIMP farmers are up in arms against green activists in Orissa. The Orissa Shrimp Farm ers'Association has threatened to move the National Human Rights Commission against the "pseudo-environmentalists and eco-terrorists, jeopardising the livelihood of thousands of prawn farmers and villagers dependant on shrimp farming."

Meanwhile, the Orissa Krishak Mahasangha, a leading anti-prawn farming 5 body, has called upon theQ Centre to educate people 9 about the devastating @ shrimp disease sweeping the Orissal and West Bengal coasts. It has urged the state government to stoo the illegal farming. The Mahasangha's president, Banka Behary Das, haJ alleged that farm owners are resorting to illegal and intimidating ways to runi these farms.

On the other hand, the shrimp farmers' body is planning to appeal to thd Supreme Court to reconsider its recent verdict against prawn farming. It has also asked for a separate aqua culture department and the establishment of dessicated, feed store and field laboratories in Rambha near Chilka, Sunamuhee in Puri and in Paradip.

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