Kendrapara: The biodiversity-rich Bhitarkanika National Park is losing its sheen day by day due to many issues. Among them are erosion and large-scale encroachment and illegal use of natural resources by fishermen both in the sea and the interior wetlands.
The Gobari river flowing close to Kansapala village under Baulakani panchayat of Mahakalapra block has turned into a hub of fish export. On the other hand extensive interior parts of Bhitarkanika have turned into a centre of illegal prawn gheries and cultivation of ‘Rupchand’ belonging to the Piranha species of fish. Both these places are prohibited areas but fishing and its related business goes on without any restrictions. This is harming the environment drastically, locals pointed out Tuesday. The toxic effluents discharged by the prawn gheries and fish cultivation are harming the green cover in Bhitarkanika, they added.
Neither the Forest department nor the Marine police have been able to check this illegal encroachment in the wetlands. The infiltration is posing a serious threat to wild animals and marine life, the sources added.
Local resident Lakshmidhar Swain pointed out that fish is sent in big trawlers to Kolkata from Kansapal ghat on a daily basis. The constant movement of the trawlers is resulting in erosion of the river bank and destroying the saline mangrove forests, he said. This illegal activity is happening under the nose of the Jambu Marine police station which is just 5.5 kilometres away, he added. This has happened because of the lackadaisical attitude of the officials of the Forest department and police, opined Ramesh Sethi of Tantiapala village.
Pratyush Kumar Nayak of Rajnagar alleged that the Forest personnel should be blamed the most for destroying the environment of Bhitarkanika. They are allegedly encouraging setting up of prawn gheries and cultivation of Piranha on the coastline in exchange of kickbacks.
Social worker Ashok Kumar Samal said that the environment of Bhitarkanika has suffered due to mushrooming of prawn gheries and illegal cultivation of ‘Rupchand’.
The dense forest of Bhitarkanika, its flora, fauna and birds and the long coastline attracts tourists from in and outside India. Other attractions for the tourists are the presence of Olive Ridley turtles, estuarine crocodiles and dolphins. Locals pointed out that unless the flourishing of illegal prawn gheries are curbed, the forest and the animals will suffer and the various species will face extinction.
Social activist Mahesh Kumar Padhi pointed out that despite the Orissa High Court order for eviction of prawn gheries in and around Bhitarkanika, nothing has been done. Environmentalist Sunil Kumar Gantayat however, blamed the politicians for the current situation in Bhitarkanika. He alleged that they have allowed migrant Bangladeshis to settle down in and around the park and carry out illegal activities. He said that these illegal migrants are felling trees for setting up of settlements and illegal prawn gheries.
When contacted, Forest ranger Manas Kumar Das said that all illegal prawn gheries are being demolished and no fresh permits are being issued for fishing.
PNN
