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Unauthorised shrimp culture on rise
The State government’s inclination towards commercial crops for economic viability to farming community and the aquaculture particularly shrimp culture picked up momentum in East Godavari district.
Kakinada: The State government’s inclination towards commercial crops for economic viability to farming community and the aquaculture particularly shrimp culture picked up momentum in East Godavari district. According to information available, the Andhra Pradesh government wants to raise the shrimp exports from the present Rs 20,000 crore to Rs 50,000 crore per annum in the next couple of years before 2020.
In this aspect, it is said that thousands of acres of land (in which the paddy crop was taken up as main crop for years) was converted into shrimp culture tanks in a hurry to get quick returns. It is said that these sections opted for conversions without valid permissions and in some cases deviations in the permissions were given by concerned authorities.
According to sources, while the permission was given to about 6,000 acres across the district, the shrimp culture has been estimated to three to four times of this. In this connection it is learnt that several paddy farmers peculiarly in Konaseema in the district complained to the authorities over large-scale pollution of canal waters which is their main irrigation water source.
Under this backdrop, the fisheries department has taken up special initiatives to check the conversions of these unauthorised shrimp tanks. East Godavari Fisheries deputy director (DD) A Kalyanam said that as per the directive of district collector, special teams were formed to check these shrimp tanks and the approval of teams has been awaited by the district authorities. The teams on their part visit the areas and depending on the prevailing conditions recommend for regularisation as per norms. If more deviations are noticed we will initiate appropriate action including dismantling of tanks, as per the recommendations of the committee.
When contacted on the pollution aspect in these conversions, East Godavari Pollution Control Board, executive engineer, Ravindra Babu said that one representative from their department will represent the official team that inspects the shrimp tanks and express views on pollution, the EE clarified.
