CUTTACK: The Orissa high court on Tuesday directed the Union ministry of agriculture to file an affidavit on the timeline within which it proposes to fill up the vacancies to the post of chairman as well as members in the Coastal Aquaculture Authority (CAA).
“This is essential if indeed the CAA Act is to have any meaningful effect on stopping the menace of illegal shrimp/prawn farming in the coastal areas of the State of Odisha,” the HC stated. It expected the affidavit to be filed on or before September 23.
The two-judge bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice B P Routray said, “It must be noted at this stage that under Section 12 of CAA Act, 2005, the Authority can, whenever it thinks it is necessary to do so, enter on any coastal aquaculture land, pond, pen and enclosure and remove or demolish any structure that has been erected therein in contravention of the provisions of the Act.”
The bench observed, “However, those powers obviously cannot be exercised unless there is a full-fledged and fully staffed Authority.” The observation came after it was informed that although the CAA Act came into force on December 22, 2005, till date no officer has been authorized by the authority to file written complaints. “As a result, Section 14 of the CAA Act has remained a dead letter,” it observed.
The Court was also informed that in the last two years, the post of chairman of the Authority has remained vacant. Of 11 members, there are only three at present.
