Aqua farmers tied worker to a pole and attacked him for protesting against illegal ponds

Hyderabad:

An environmental activist from Andhra Pradesh was brutally beaten by water farmers for protesting against illegal aquaculture practices in Konaseema area. Chikkam Veera Durga Prasad, a resident of Sannavilli village, is waging a legal battle against water farmers who run unauthorized water ponds in violation of environmental norms.

He has also expressed concern about water pollution caused by these ponds.

Acting on their complaints, a local court has issued orders to shut down the operation of illegal water ponds. But defying the court orders, the water farmers have again attempted to dig the pond.

Following the advice of the authorities to collect evidence, Chikkam Durga Prasad visited the site to take photographs. But the water farmers reportedly tied him to a pole and severely beat him. A video of the attack is being widely circulated online.

Chikkam Durga Prasad is currently undergoing treatment in the hospital.

Uppalaguptam police have filed a first information report against four people in connection with the attack on Durga Prasad.

Aquaculture or aquafarming is the cultivation of fish, crustaceans, mollusks, algae and other organisms in a pond under controlled environments. In many cases, the side effects of farmers using antibiotics to control fish waste lead to the drugs directly reaching the ecosystem, affecting the soil and native organisms of the area.