The state government told the Orissa high court on Monday that diesel-run motorised fishing boats can operate in the Mangalajodi section of Chilika lake as the “use of solar battery-operated boats for fishing will not be economically viable on the part of the poor fishermen”.
The affidavit filed by joint director of fisheries (coastal), Sashikanta Acharya, said 200 diesel-run motorised boats are operating in Mangalajodi. He said the cost of solar- or battery-operated engines excluding the cost of installation of grid for charging and maintenance will amount to approximately Rs 30 crore.
The HC was hearing a PIL seeking a ban on the movement of motorised fishing boats in Mangalajodi, which attracts lakhs of migratory birds. Earlier the HC had asked the state government to explore the possibility of using solar- or battery-operated boats in place of diesel-run ones which can cause both noise and air pollution. The HC wanted the state government to come up with a scheme for subsidising the cost of running such boats given the enormous tourist influx to watch the migratory birds in Mangalajodi bird sanctuary.
However, Acharya said, “The financial implication towards the cost of operating solar or battery-operated boats is not the only constraint. Considering the infrastructure, views of the stakeholders and increasing population of the migratory birds at Mangalajodi, it is recommended to allow the fishermen of the region to continue the use of motorised fishing boats, as operating of such boats would not in any way disturb the movement of the migratory birds.”
“The registered authorised fishing boats operating on the water body of Mangalajodi may be allowed for the sustenance and livelihood of the local fishermen and for development of fish production in Odisha,” he stated.
Taking the affidavit on record, the two-judge bench of Justices Subhasis Talapatra and Savitri Ratho adjourned hearing on the matter to August 7.
Debakar Behera, a local resident, had filed the PIL. Arguing on the petitioner’s behalf, advocate Ashis Kumar Mishra had contended that the ban was necessary as the movement of diesel-run motor boats affected the population of migratory birds.
According to the affidavit, there is no established model for solar- or battery-operated engines in the country. The two models recommended would approximately cost Rs 15 lakh and Rs 11.25 lakh, respectively, for the procurement of batteries and motor. Besides, additional charges for establishing a grid for charging would cost Rs 15 lakh and Rs 10.5 lakh, respectively. The fishermen and other stakeholders are not willing to shift from diesel-run engines.