Campaign against prawn mafia in Bhitarkanika

In order to protect mangrove forests in Bhitarkanika National Park, Forest department here has launched a campaign against construction of prawn farms in the protected area.

Range officer Manas Das said, We have begun a campaign where our staff use public address system and distribute leaflets asking people not to convert forest, revenue and agricultural land inside Bhitarkanika into prawn farms.

Acting on the 2017 High court order, illegal prawn farms are being demolished. He also added that this type of practice are being done in summer which is why the campaign has been launched to keep the prawn mafia at bay. The department has also been planting mangrove saplings over the dismantled prawn farms to convert them into forests.