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Notices and publication be completed within 3 weeks from today. Meanwhile, we direct all the State Governments/Union Territories not to give fresh licences/permission for setting up/establishment of any aqua-farm in their respective Territories till further orders."

Coastal Pollution, universally, is an emerging problem. So far as India is concerned it has already become a serious environmental problem. Besides direct dumping of waste materials in the seas discharge through marine outfalls, large volumes of untreated of semi-treated waste generated in various land-based sources/activities ultimately find way to the seas. The coastal waters directly receive the inland waters, by way of surface run-off and land-drainage, ladden with myriad of refuse materials - the rejects or wastes of the civilisation. Apart from inputs from rivers and effluent-outfalls, the coastal areas are subject to intensive fishing, navigational activities, recreations, ports, industrial discharge and harbours which are causative factors of water quality degradation to varying degrees. Contrary to the open sea, the changes in the quality of coastal waters, are much greater due to river discharges under tidal conditions.

Alagarswami report high lights various environmental and social problems created by the Coastal Acquaculture. The relevant part of the report is as under:-

"Physical factors Shrimp farming along the coastal area of the whole country is developing at a rapid rate. Huge cylone protection dykes and peripheral dykes are constructed by the shrimp farmers. In many cases as in Kandleru creek (Andhra Pradesh), the farm areas are the natural drainage areas for floods. Due to physical obstruction caused by the dykes, the natural drain is blocked and flood water acumulates in the hinterland villages. Protests are being made by people in some of the villages against such dykes. The ponds are constructed right on the bank of the creeks without leaving any area for draining of flood water. Right of passage of coastal fishermen The shrimp farms do not provide access to the beach for traditional fishermen who have to reach the sea from their villages. As farms are located and entry is restricted, the fishermen have to take a longer route to the sea for their operations. This is being objected to by traditional fishermen. Drinking water problems The Corporate sector has purchased vast areas adjoining the villages which, in some cases, include drinking water public wells of the villages. The villagers cannot use these wells anymore as they are located in private land owned by the farmers. This is causing social problems.

The Alagaswamy report further states that paddy fields are being converted to shrimp farms, as in some parts of Andhra Pradesh (e.g. Bhimavarami, Some paddv lands along the fringe of Chilka Lake have been last to shrimp farming.

The report suggests future management strategies - quoted hereunder - for farms and Government in resolving any conflicts or environmental problems:-

"As shrimpfarming is developing fast, the following strategies have been developed for avoiding problems which have arisen in other countries (or reducing their impact):

- design of aquaculture farm is not proper, and no wastwater/sediment treatment facility exists in this shrimp farm

- intensive mode of operation creates wastewater problems.

Presently, there is no treatment facility existing for reuse and recycle of treated wastwater

- deposition of clay in the intake water reservoir, and no proper mechanism exists for its disposal

- seepage from the bunds create additional problems around the farm