KOCHI: Officials of the Department of Fisheries have found that the District Collector’s order on shrimp farming and ‘pokkali’ cultivation is not being followed by many land-owners in Chellanam.
The Pokkali Samrakshana Samithi has lodged a complaint with the deputy director of fisheries, alleging that the land-owners were engaged in shrimp farming instead of pokkali paddy, which is suggested by the district administration for the season. In March 2014, the Collector had issued an order banning shrimp farming in pokkali paddy fields during the season that begins in April and ends in November. In the order, the Collector had made it clear that the government would not provide any assistance to the farmers who do not follow the guidelines.
“The Department has not initiated an inquiry. But, we visited the paddy holdings in Chellanam on the basis of the complaint, and we could not find pokkali cultivation as stipulated by the district administration. We found water in the paddy holdings, and reported the same to the higher officials,” said regional fisheries inspector Saritha. ENS