Officials race against time to comply with NGT order to demolish 434 illegal aqua ponds in Konaseema

An illegal aquaculture pond being demolished in Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district authorities are racing against time to meet the deadline fixed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to demolish the illegal aquaculture ponds thriving within the 500 metres of High Tide Line (HTL) in violation of the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules. 

The NGT, in its orders issued in July 2022 and September 2024, directed the Andhra Pradesh government to comply with its orders related to demolition of the illegal aqua ponds within the 500 metres of HTL from the seafront.

The next hearing is scheduled for February 23 to assess whether or not the authorities have complied with the orders of the NGT. 

UK-based environmental activist Venkatipathi Raja Yenumala has moved the NGT, seeking action against illegal aqua ponds. 

“The drive to demolish illegal aqua ponds has been intensified. We have set a target to complete the exercise by March. We will demolish the illegal ponds at Antarvedi after the ongoing annual Kalyanotsavam at Sri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple is over,” Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema Collector R. Mahesh Kumar told The Hindu on Tuesday. 

On Tuesday, Mr. Mahesh Kumar directed the officials of the revenue, fisheries, and electricity departments to deploy more machinery to complete the drive.

In an official release, Mr. Mahesh Kumar said; “As many as 434 illegal aqua ponds have been identified within the 500 metres of the HTL in three mandals of Maamdikuduru (193 illegal ponds), Malkipuram (35 ponds) and Sakhinetipalli (206 ponds)“. 

A majority of illegal aquaponds surround the Sri Lakshminarasimha Swamy temple at Antarvedi in Sakhinetipalli mandal, he said.

The illegal aqua ponds have been identified in the land belonging to private individuals, government and fisherfolk cooperative societies. By February 4, as many as 47 illegal aqua ponds have been destroyed. 

In late 2024, the owners and operators of these illegal aqua ponds were given time to demolish or completely abandon the illegal ponds within the 500 HTL. However, they did not comply with the directions issued by the district authorities.