📷 Image: Wikimedia Commons / Krupasindhu Muduli
Agriculture
Odisha Seizes 500 Acres of Illegal Prawn Farms in Chilika Drive
✍️ Kanak News Odisha
🗓 06 Aug 2026, 08:18 PM
👁 4
Odisha authorities have dismantled 500 acres of illegal prawn farms around Chilika Lagoon as part of a major crackdown.
Odisha’s fisheries department announced a major operation that saw 500 acres of illegal prawn farms dismantled around the Chilika Lagoon, the country’s largest brackish water ecosystem. The farms, which had been operating without permits, were found to be encroaching on protected wetlands and threatening local biodiversity.
The crackdown was part of a broader effort to regulate aquaculture in the state. Officials said the removal of the farms will help restore the lagoon’s ecological balance and protect the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen who depend on its waters.
The state government has pledged to enforce stricter licensing and monitoring of aquaculture projects in the region. It also plans to conduct regular inspections to prevent future illegal encroachments.
The move has been welcomed by environmental groups, who argue that unchecked prawn farming has led to water pollution and habitat loss in Chilika.
The crackdown was part of a broader effort to regulate aquaculture in the state. Officials said the removal of the farms will help restore the lagoon’s ecological balance and protect the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen who depend on its waters.
The state government has pledged to enforce stricter licensing and monitoring of aquaculture projects in the region. It also plans to conduct regular inspections to prevent future illegal encroachments.
The move has been welcomed by environmental groups, who argue that unchecked prawn farming has led to water pollution and habitat loss in Chilika.