Kendrapara: The director, environment-cum-special secretary, F&E department, K Murugesan, has written a letter to special secretary, Union Home department, to allow preparation of a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) in Kendrapara district to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshis.
A high-level committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary, forest and environment department and comprising High Court-appointed amicus curiae Mohit Agarwal, senior administration and police officials and District Collectors was set up under the supervision of the High Court to conserve the two major wetlands of the state – Bhitarkanika National Park (BNP) and Chilika.
The committee took note of the presence of a large number of Bangladeshis in BNP and that their illegal activities have endangered the wetland. As per the decision at the 4th committee meeting June 24, a letter was sent to the Centre enclosing a copy of the letter dated 24.06.2019 along with enclosures received from Mohit Agrawal.
As per the decision taken at the 4th meeting of the committee, “The Centre was requested to grant permission for the preparation of a National Register of Indian Citizens in Kendrapara district,” said official sources.
Amicus curiae Mohit Agarwal had brought to the notice of the Additional Chief Secretary that a case has been registered as per directions of the Supreme Court for the protection of the Chilika lake and BNP. The BNP is a designated RAMSAR convention wetland located on the coast of Odisha. Over a period of time, illegal Bangladeshis intruded into BNP through the sea and have established themselves in the wetland.
They carry on illegal prawn culture by destroying mangrove forests and are involved in ganja trade, arms trade and a host of other illegal activities.
