Balasore: Around 500 families in the coastal villages of Chandipur in Balasore district are earning their livelihood by collecting seashells from the beach.
The families are looking up to the government to set up a small scale industrial (SSI) unit in this area so that the seashells can be used for making craft-work items for decorating houses.
The seashell traders are heavily profiteering by illegally selling seashells from the Chandipur area in West Bengal, but the fate of these poor families who collect seashells is uncertain. Forest officials are silent regarding this and the government is losing huge amounts of revenue.
Sources said the people of coastal villages like Balaramgadi, Parikhi, Bahabalapur, Kasaphala, Talapada, Adia and the nearby areas of Chandipur Integrated Test Range (ITR) collect seashells from the beach daily.
Around 500 families collect about five to seven bags of seashells per person and they run their households with the money. Usually, they collect huge quantities of seashells as the tide recedes leaving seashells on the shore.
A wide variety of seashells are found on the Chandbali coast, namely Kashi, Saru, Genda, Sankha, Sipi, Pati, Phali and Chuni. Seashells like Genda, Sankha, Phali and Pati are costlier than the other ones.
After collecting shells the families separate the different varieties and pack them. After that they sell each bag of seashells for Rs 25 to traders from West Bengal.
The seashell traders earn a huge profit by selling at Rs 200 a bag. Nearly a hundred tonnes of seashells are collected from Chandbali every day.
Apart from making craft-works, seashells are also used for saree ornamentation, as poultry-feed and for preparing lime. In cottage industrial units using seashells, most family members are seen participating in making various craft-works.
Giving his views, District Forest Officer Biswaraj Panda said, “We have conducted several raids to curb the illegal trade in seashells. We will be more aggressive now.”
PNN
