Kendrapara: Digging up channels for supply of seawater to prawn gheries has lead to salinisation of farmlands in Krushnapriyapur in Rajnagar block in this district, a report said.
Prawn gheries are mushrooming in the area despite a direction by the Orissa High Court for their demolition. Reportedly, prawn gheries are spread over 7,000 acres of farmlands in and around the Bhitarkanika National Park.
Observers said that the ghery owners run their business with impunity in violation of guidelines of Central Empowered Committee, Wildlife Act, Revenue Act and Coastal Regulation Act.
The matter came to the fore after a delegation of farmers of Krushnapriyapur approached the district administration Friday and lodged a complaint in this regard.
The farmers warned of resorting to hunger strike if their demand for demolition of the prawn gheries is not addressed.
The farmers alleged that the ghery owners are digging up channels by their farmlands to take seawater to their gheries. The flow of the seawater has increased the salinity of their farmlands and led to loss of soil fertility. As a result, they are unable to carry out any cultivation on their farmlands.
Sources said the mushrooming of prawn gheries in the seacoast of Kendrapara district has posed serious threat to agriculture and Bhitarkanika National Park due to administrative apathy. The mushrooming of gheries has often resulted in violent clashes between ghery owners and local farmers.
The death of a villager Kishore Sethy in gun firing over prawn farming in Kandira village in 2019 is a case in point.
A farmer Ramesh Das, who was part of the delegation, alleged that the prawn farming has completely destroyed agriculture in the area. More and more outsiders and locals are being drawn into this trade as this is very profitable. These people are illegally acquiring farmlands in the area to build their prawn gheries.
Another complainant, Uttam Barik said that the mushrooming of prawn gheries is destroying the biological diversity of Bhitarkanika National Park.
The soil and water management in the prawn gheries and use of various harmful chemicals and medicines to help in growth of prawns is the reason behind the destruction of farmlands, he said.
The chemical mixed water discharged outside flows into the adjoining farmlands and destroys the fertility of soil as well as the environment. The chemical mixed water also destroys aquatic creatures in other water bodies in the area, he added.
Social activist Amarbar Biswal said rampant prawn farming has destroyed the peace and brotherhood in the area.
Sub-collector Jyotishankar Mohapatra said over 600 illegal prawn gheries have been demolished in the district so far and the process is continuing.
PNN