This story is from June 2, 2021

Cyclone Yaas inflicts heavy losses on Kendrapada fish farmers

Around 10,000 shrimp and fish farmers in coastal Kendrapada and its nearby areas suffered huge losses as cyclone Yaas and subsequent floods washed away most farms and with it the shrimps in Rajkanika, Aul and Rajnagar blocks.
Cyclone Yaas inflicts heavy losses on Kendrapada fish farmers
The flooded shrimp farms in Kendrapada’s Batighar village
KENDRAPADA: Around 10,000 shrimp and fish farmers in coastal Kendrapada and its nearby areas suffered huge losses as cyclone Yaas and subsequent floods washed away most farms and with it the shrimps in Rajkanika, Aul and Rajnagar blocks.
The tidal surge breached embankments of shrimp farms at many places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Kendrapada and Jagatsinghpur districts, Sumant Biswal, president of Odisha Marine Fish Producers' Association, said.

Pravat Das, a shrimp farmer from Kendrapada's Batighar village, said, "I have incurred huge losses as my shrimp farms on six acres were completely washed away. I lost shrimps worth Rs 30 lakh. Recovering from the loss will be difficult."
Fish farmers in Kendrapada's Rajnagar, Aul and Rajkanika blocks also sustained losses. The cyclonic storm washed away houses and other structures surrounding the ponds and farms. "We want introduction of interest-free or low interest loans to enable them to overcome the losses," Prasana Behera, president of Odisha Traditional Fish Workers Union (OTFWU), said.
"Almost all fishes from my pond were washed away in the flood. Last year, I spent Rs 50,000 to renovate the pond and two months back released the juveniles," said Abhiram Biswal of Padanipal village.
District fisheries officer (Kendrapada) Mamata Mohapatra said only 729 shrimp farmers have registered their farms on 1,400 acres of land in the district.
"Other shrimp farms are illegal as those violate the coastal regulation zone and rulings of the Supreme Court and Orissa high court. Farmers cultivating shrimp without registering with the coastal aquaculture authority (CAA) are liable to be imprisoned for three years and fined up to Rs 1 lakh. We are estimating the loss. All affected shrimp and fish farmers will get help from the department," he said.
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