Even as Chilika Development Authority (CDA) embarks on a massive encroachment demolition drive in the brackish water lagoon, the Odisha Government has made a strategic move in the proposed Fisheries Regulation Bill to take on illegal farming. The Odisha Regulation of Fishing and Fisheries in Chilika Bill, 2017, which was approved by the State Cabinet last month, now vests fishing lease power with the CDA and gives it real teeth. As per the proposed legislation, the Government will hand over the entire leasable area of Chilika in favour of CDA which, in turn, can sub-lease it to Primary Fisheries Cooperative Societies (PFCS). At present, the leasing rights are with Odisha State Fishermen’s Cooperative Federation (FishFed) which, due to shortage of man-power and adequate resources, has not been able to utilise it to full capacity. Out of 135 PFCS, barely about 30 societies have been granted lease hold for fishing in Chilika. Though most of the water-spread area of the lagoon is up for lease, presence of such a small number of the fishermen’s cooperative societies means that there are more outsiders and illegal operators who are grabbing the fishing areas of Chilika leading to law and order situations. The bigger problem has been low representation of local fishermen communities who are part of PFCS but lose out on key livelihood options. However, if the Bill is passed in the Assembly, CDA will become a single-point authority with powers to sanction lease as well as monitor the execution. The Bill provides that Government will determine the leasable area in consultation with CDA and charge a rent for lease. Each lease will be for a period of 10 years and can be renewed from time to time. However, no sub-lease will be granted or renewed for any PFCS if it is charged with an offence under the Act taken cognisance by a court of law till it is cleared. Similarly, lease-hold cannot be transferred to any person other than a PFCS. The societies getting lease cannot sublet, mortgage or transfer the area through a sub-lease or enter into any contract with any person for fishing in the area. While the Bill gives extensive powers to CDA, it also makes the agency accountable for its activities. While it will be responsible for monitoring the lease holds, the CDA will have to take up enforcement against the encroachers since the entire leasable area would come under its ambit. The CDA has technical resources to determine the fishing grounds as it can use satellite imagery to scout such areas before granting lease. It can also find out the encroachments and illegal gheris which come up in violation of the norms using similar technology. Chief Executive of CDA Sushant Nanda said livelihood support of primary fishermen dependent on the lagoon will improve tremendously once the new legislation comes into effect. Besides, CDA can support them in marketing their catch through a cold-chain system, he added.