Mangrove forests destroyed at Ayiramthengu fish farm

KOLLAM: More than 10 acres of mangrove forests in the Ayiramthengu government fish farm complex in Alapad panchayat in Kollam district have been destroyed as part of a project to deepen ponds, taken up by the State Fisheries Resource Management Society (FIRMA). This comes at a time when the State government has announced schemes for the revival and promotion of mangrove forests both as an environment conservation programme and for countering sea erosion.

The project to deepen ponds of over six acres is estimated to cost Rs.15-lakh. The stretch of mangroves on the banks of these ponds has been rooted out while dredging the sand to deepen the ponds. A good portion of what used to be a mangrove-rich fish farm now wears a barren look.

Talking to The Hindu, environment activist M.K. Prasad said this was the biggest destruction of mangroves in such a short span of time and that too with government funds.