After the locals of Taneipada and Upulai under Rajkanika tehsil alleged that illegal prawn gheries caused havoc by affecting the agriculture fields and creating pollution, the district administration recently directed the DFO of Rajnagar Mangrove (forest) and Wildlife Division to conduct an inquiry and submit a detailed report within a week. The locals, especially farmers, had urged the district administration to evict the illegal prawn gheries which were set up in their localities by prawn mafia.
Notably, the locals earlier had filed a petition before the district administration alleging that the prawn mafia allegedly converted some of the agriculture fields in Taneipada, Bajarpur, Nuagaon, Kusunpur, Jayanagar and Katana villages under Jaynagar and Ayatana R.I circles into the dollar-spinning prawn gheries. As a result, due to release of saline water and chemical substances from the prawn gheries the agriculture fields lost fertility.
Acting on the allegations, the district administration had later on December 31, 2011 formed a District Task Force under the guidance of the Sub Collector. Even notices were later served for demolition of the prawn gheries in the villages which were established illegally. But unfortunately, the Task Force failed to demolish the gheries.
Meanwhile, environmentalists alleged that in last four decades, several influential persons enjoying patronage of the ruling party leaders converted large areas of forest lands into prawn farms after denuding mangrove forests in the areas. As per CRZ norm, nobody is allowed to construct or dig prawn farms within 500 meters of the sea.