By Sunil Jena
Editor-in-Chief, The Politics Odia
Bhubaneswar/Krushnaprasad: Fresh political controversy has erupted in Odisha after local fishermen from the Chilika region alleged large-scale illegal prawn enclosure operations inside the lake area under Krushnaprasad Tahasil in Puri district.
According to allegations raised by local fishing communities, nearly 70 percent of the waterbody in parts of Chilika under Krushnaprasad Tahasil has allegedly been occupied through illegal shrimp enclosures, generating massive unregulated profits for influential groups.
The allegations have now triggered a larger political debate after fingers were pointed at local administrative officials, particularly Additional Tahsildar Bikash Sethi. Fishermen alleged that illegal shrimp enclosure operators were receiving administrative protection.
The controversy deepened after questions emerged regarding the transfer of Bikash Sethi. According to reports, the Odisha Revenue Department had initially transferred the officer on May 15, but the transfer order was allegedly cancelled shortly afterwards, allowing him to continue in the same posting.
The development has raised political questions regarding the circumstances behind the cancellation and whether influential interests linked to illegal shrimp operations played a role in the decision.
Political critics are now questioning the role of Revenue Minister Suresh Pujari, while opposition voices and local residents have also raised concerns about whether the alleged network extends into higher levels of the state administration.
The issue has additionally drawn attention because of the silence maintained so far by local political representatives, including Brahmagiri MLA Upasana Mohapatra, Puri MP Sambit Patra and senior BJD leader Sanjay Das Burma, who previously represented the Brahmagiri constituency.
Local fishermen allege that illegal enclosures have severely affected traditional fishing livelihoods, ecological balance and public access to water resources in Chilika, which is internationally recognised for its ecological importance.
To verify the claims and understand the ground reality, The Politics Odia editor Sunil Jena visited the affected areas and conducted a ground-level investigation based on local testimonies, field observations and available documents.
As political pressure grows, demands are increasing for an independent inquiry into the allegations surrounding illegal shrimp farming, administrative accountability and the alleged nexus between influential groups and local governance structures in the Chilika region.
