Paradip, Sept. 11: A plot of forestland that could have been used to regenerate mangroves is yet to be freed from the clutches of the prawn mafia despite efforts made by the Bhitarkanika National Park authorities.

The 139 hectares of forestland have been encroached upon with illegal prawn dykes sprouting all over the area.

The forestland was leased out to a government agency more than three decades ago.

For the past nine years, the officials of the national park have been frantically trying to retrieve 139.29 hectares of forestland from the possession of government agencies.

The episode dates back to 1980 when the Union agriculture ministry had accorded approval under the Forest Conservation Act for release of the 139.29 hectares of forestland on a 20-year lease in Panikhia, Kalatunga and Narasinghapur.

The erstwhile Orissa Maritime and Chilika Area Development Corporation (Omcard) had taken possession of the land for coconut plantation.

The lease terms expired in 2003, but the land is yet to be returned to the forest department.

“Since 2003, we have been requesting the revenue officials to return the forestland to us. But this has not yielded any results,” said the divisional forest officer of Bhitarkanika mangrove (wildlife) forest division, Manoj Kumar Mahapatra.

A part of the said forestland has been made encroachment-free with the demolition of illegal prawn dykes.

However, mangrove regeneration work has not yet started because the land is yet to be officially handed over to the forest department, said Mahapatra.

At the time of land diversion, it was stipulated that the land should not be used for any purpose other than coconut plantation. But it was found out that the Omcard, which later merged with Odisha Pisciculture Development Corporation (OPDC), sub-leased the forestland for prawn cultivation.

“It was an outright deviation from lease terms and conditions. They were served a showcause notice. But it went unheeded,” said the divisional forest officer.

Omcard has since ceased to exist. And the new management, OPDC, has washed its hands off the issue, said the official.

“We have sent a series of letters — from the Union agriculture ministry to the collector. But nothing tangible has come of it. The once-green mangrove is now covered with unauthorised prawn cultivation,” said Mahapatra.

The forestland has great potential for mangrove regeneration. There is frequent incursion of tidal waves into these areas making it conducive to the growth of mangroves, said an official.