Shrimp farmers staring at Rs 350 cr loss on Phailin induced floods

Undivided Balasore district along coast of north Odisha, consisting of Bhadrak and Balasore, accounts for about 80% of total shrimp farming

The fury of the severe cyclonic storm Phailin coupled with consequential floods in coastal districts of Odisha has taken a toll on shrimp farming.

The shrimp farmers have estimated the total loss at Rs 350 crore due to devastation wreaked by Phailin in Gopalpur, Puri and Jagatsinghpur districts and flooding in Balasore district.

“The overall loss in farming due to inundation of farm lands is in the range of Rs 300-350 crore,” said Manoranjan Panda, vice president, Odisha Shrimp Farmers’ Association.

The undivided Balasore district along the coast of north Odisha, consisting of Bhadrak and Balasore, accounts for about 80 per cent of the total shrimp farming.

The exportable shrimp comes from Astaranga in Puri district, Gopalpur in cyclone hit Ganjam district and Paradip in Jagatsinghpur district.

Balasore district is the worst hit due to flood with 68,000 people still stranded in four blocks- Remuna, Baleswar Sadar, Bhograi and Jaleswar.