The Tamil Nadu government has imposed a fine of Rs 67 lakh on aqua farms in Chennai’s suburbs for polluting water bodies and affecting agriculture in nearby fields. Inspections this week revealed that only 84 out of the 295 shrimp farms in and around Ponneri have valid licences and the remaining 65% were functioning illegally, Tiruvallur collector Mageswari Ravikumar told the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Tuesday. The fisheries department wants the illegal units shut. The case was originally filed by agriculturists from Pakkam village in Ponneri. Water bodies of the village are a source of drinking water for Chennai city and part of the Pazhaverkadu bird sanctuary. In the early 2000s, shrimp and prawn cultivation flourished in the area as water availability was abundant. But the aqua farms began releasing saline water in nearby water bodies, affecting groundwater quality. When borewells in agricultural fields drew contaminated water, it affected the paddy yield. Local law restricts the functioning of such farms within 1km radius of Pulicat Lake. But complaints to state agencies about such farms close to Pulicat Lake on poromboke lands were not addressed. NGT Southern Zone, while hearing the case, constituted a panel to look into farms on not only poromboke land but also registered patta land, and study if they had caused any environmental damage. Accordingly, the committee inspected the area and found out that the region had 182 shrimp farms in the brackish water area and another 113 farms in areas with freshwater. The fisheries department has instructed closure of 119 brackish water shrimp farms functioning without licence and suspend activities at 113 inland freshwater shrimp farms as these were within 1km of Pulicat Lake. The fisheries department sent these farms notices and cut power supply. Fines were imposed on 28 illegal farms against which the committee was able to record significant evidence of polluting water resources and land. On hearing the committee’s submission, NGT members Justice K. Ramakrishnan and Saibal Dasgupta directed the committee to inspect soil and water quality in the area. In response, the committee said samples were collected and sent to Dr MGR Fisheries College and Research Institute, Ponneri, and Agricultural Lab, Kakkalur. Results of these tests are awaited. The next hearing is scheduled on December 18.