The West Bengal Forest Department has initiated a crackdown on illegal brackish water fisheries established in the Sundarbans region during the previous Trinamool Congress regime. The new state forest minister, Manoj Oraon, has instructed officials to identify and shut down these illegal fisheries, reclaiming the mangrove areas they occupy.
Covering approximately 1,600 acres, most of these illicit fisheries are located in the South 24 Parganas district within the Sundarbans region. The state forest department aims to complete the process of dismantling these operations and replanting mangroves by November this year.
State Forest Minister Oraon emphasized the restoration of mangrove plantations in these areas, highlighting the collaboration between the forest department and district authorities. The goal is to prevent the reemergence of illegal fisheries and protect the ecological balance of the region.
Environmentalists have welcomed this move, underscoring the vital role of mangroves in shielding the coastal zone from natural disasters like cyclones. Preserving these plantations is crucial for averting larger calamities in the Sundarbans area.
Under the new Bharatiya Janata Party-led government, efforts to curb illegal constructions in the Sundarbans have intensified. Recently, an illegally built café along the Matla River owned by Imran Molla, son of a former Trinamool Congress MLA, was demolished, signaling a firm stance against unauthorized developments in the region.
