ALAPPUZHA:Prawn farmers in Aroor constituency have landed in trouble after prawns in their fields were found dead in large numbers this week. However, the exact reason for the death of prawns has not been determined. The prawns were found dead in fields at Pallithode, Valiyathadam, Kochuvavakad and western parts of Thuravoor. Udayabhanu, a farmer from Pattanakkad panchayat, said that he had suffered a loss of more than Rs 10 lakh. He had deposited 1.75 lakh seedlings in his 12 acre paddy field.
Satheesan, another prawn farmer said, the prawns afflicted with the unknown disease are 70 -days- old.
“We were about to conduct the harvesting of the prawns. But, we are in trouble now as majority of our prawns have started to die out in large numbers. Though news about the prawn’s mass death has come out, no authorities concerned have come forward and tried to understand our situation,’’ he said.
The chemical waste dumping from the various industrial units are believed to be the main reason for the sudden death of prawns.
According to Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies Vice-Chancellor B Madhusoodana Kurup, when the industrial waste reaches the fields through canals, the level of oxygen will come down drastically resulting in the death of prawns.
In a rough estimate of loss prepared by the farmers in the Kari land in Thuravoor, Ezhupunna and other panchayats in the Cherthala taluk shows that more than Rs 50 lakh loss was incurred due to the death of prawns.