'Land grab' by shrimp farms threatens Pulicat sanctuary

Report says 309 acres, including grazing land & floodplains, encroached

- SV Krishna Chaitanya @ Chennai

A grassroots movement committed to protecting wetlands in Chennai has flagged large-scale violations and alleged land grab by aquaculture farms in the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) of the Pulicat bird sanctuary in Tiruvallur district.

A report titled "Aquaculture Land Grab" released by the 'Save Ennore Creek Campaign' on Thursday claimed 309 acres, equivalent to 34 cricket stadiums, have been occupied by aquaculture farms, of which 62 acres are poramboke common lands classified as grazing grounds (Meikal poramboke) and floodplains (Kazhuveli poramboke).

The study area, Thangalperumbulam in Ponneri Taluk of Thiruvallur, is inhabited largely by Scheduled Caste communities. The residents largely rely on cattle rearing, agriculture, and fishing, all of which depend on access to common lands and the Kosasthalaiyar-Pulicat wetland system.