Kendrapara: The district administration has decided to enforce provisions of Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) to maintain congenial and encroachment-free coastal eco-system.

To begin with, Kendrapara collector Reghu G. said human interference in the form of prawn gherries (dykes) within the CRZ territory would be sternly dealt with. The drive to raze dykes was already under way in the seaside pockets of the coastal district, Reghu said.

In a joint survey, personnel of the revenue, tehsil and forest departments had earmarked occupied land in CRZ territory. The dykes that have sprouted up in the occupied land will be being dismantled in a phased manner.

The occupation of land within 100 metres of water-bodies marked by inflow of tidal water would be reclaimed for regeneration of mangrove and other coastal vegetation. The high-tide line from the sea to about 500m towards the landward side has been categorised as CRZ.

Similarly, the zone extending from the high-tide line to 100m of the creek along 'tidal-influenced bodies', such as bays, estuaries, rivers, backwaters, lagoons and ponds, connected to the sea have been identified as no-human-interference zone under the CRZ.

These ecologically sensitive zones are freed from construction of any form except for defence and strategic purpose. As prawn gherries have come up in flagrant violation of the CRZ, demolition of these structures has become imperative to safeguard Kendrapara's fragile eco-system, the official said.

The villages such as Jamboo, Chapalli, Banapada, Kandarapatia, Sashanapaja, Keyarbanka, Satabhaya, Magarkanda, Gupti, Hukitola, Kansaradiha, Nalapai and Ekamania are dotted with CRZ territories. Drive to evict the squatters is being undertaken in these areas.

Artificial barriers such as dykes have plugged the free-flow of natural creeks and other water inlets. As a result, encroached water bodies are changing directions and triggering erosion at various spots, the official said.

The unauthorised prawn gherries not only pose a threat to unhindered flow of natural water bodies, but it also proves hazardous for aquatic species, including freshwater fish due to rampant use of chemicals.

According to officials, in recent year there has been a drop in fish yield due to such unauthorised activity.