The Odisha Krushak Mahasangha (OKM), the Orissa Environmental Society (OES) and the fishermen associations of Chilika have demanded that the proposed Odisha Regulation of Fishing and Fisheries in Chilika Act 2017 be passed in the current Winter Session of the State Assembly. As per the proposed Act, fishing activities would be undertaken as per traditional systems. Systems of fishing by gheries and prawn cultivation would be banned. Mary aquatic animals have been extinct due to use of chemical used in prawn cultivation for which there has been 40 per cent decrease in footfall of migratory birds compared to 20 years back. An all-party meet had been held for the Bill. The House Committee had presented a related report in the Assembly on December 6, 1996. Though the Bill could not be prepared for various reasons, it was approved by the State Cabinet recently only with the intervention of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Now some prawn mafias and self interested persons have started lobbying not to get the Bill presented in the House. The Government should be influenced by the lobby and should ensure that the Bill is passed in the better interest of fishermen and Chilika environment, demanded environmentalist.
2017 The Pioneer.