Odisha to enforce CRZ provisions to save coastal ecosystem

In a move to maintain an encroachment-free coastal ecosystem, the Kendrapara district administration has decided to enforce the provisions of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ).

Human interference, in the form of prawn 'gherries' (dykes), within the CRZ territory will be sternly dealt with, the Collector of Kendrapara, Reghu G, said.

"The drive to raze the dykes was already under way in seaside pockets of the coastal district," the collector said yesterday.

The occupied land in CRZ territory has been earmarked in a joint survey carried out by revenue, tehsil and forest personnel.

The dykes are being dismantled in a phased manner, he said.

The land occupied by the dykes, within 100 meters of the water bodies marked by inflow of tidal water, would be reclaimed for regeneration of mangrove and other coastal vegetation, the collector said.

The high tide line (HTL) from the sea to about 500 meters towards the landward side is CRZ categorised.

Similarly the zone extending from the HTL to 100 meters of the creek along tidal influenced bodies such as bays, estuaries, rivers, backwaters, lagoons and ponds that are connected to the sea are identified as no human interference zone under the CRZ Act.

As prawn gherries have come up in violation of the CRZ Act, demolition of these structures has become imperative to safeguard the fragile ecosystem in Kendrapara, an official said.

Villages such as Jamboo, Chapalli, Banapada, Kandarapatia, Sashanapaja, Keyarbanka, Satabhaya, Magarkanda, Gupti, Hukitola, Kansaradiha, Nalapai and Ekamania are dotted with CRZ territories.

A drive to evict the squatters is being undertaken in these areas, the official said.

By erecting artificial barriers in the form of dykes, the free flow of natural creeks and water inlets are reported to have been plugged, he said.

These unauthorised prawn gherries not only pose stumbling block towards unhindered flow of natural water bodies but also it turns hazardous for aquatic animals including freshwater fish due to rampant use of chemicals in gherries, the official said.

In recent years, there has been a drop in yield of fish due to such unauthorised activities, the official said.