Survey launched to resolve fishing rights dispute between East Godavari, Konaseema

A fresh resurvey has been commissioned to identify the administrative borders of the East Godavari and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema districts, following a dispute between the fisherfolk of the two districts over fishing rights in the Godavari river.

The dispute remains unsolved as the fisherfolk of Bobbarlanka and Dowleswaram continue to fight over the fishing rights in the Godavari river at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage in Dowleswaram. 

This year, the Dowleswaram Matsakara Sangham won the annual lease signed by the Department of Fisheries, with an entitlement to collect wild prawn seed from the river at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage. The lease is now in question with the Bobbarlanka Matsakara Sangham raising objections over the lease and restrictions on them from the collection of the wild prawn seed.

In a meeting held here on Tuesday (23 December, 2025), Joint Collectors T. Nishanthi (Dr. B.R. Ambedkar Konaseem District) and Y. Megha Swaroop (East Godavari) have directed the Departments of Fisheries, Irrigation and Survey to conduct a fresh survey to identify the borders of the two districts to find a permanent solution to the fishing rights. The officials met to discuss the dispute based on the directives of the court.

“The Departments of Fisheries, Irrigation and Survey will submit their report on the boundaries of the two districts at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage on December 30. The next round of talks will be held on the dispute with two parties on January 22, 2026. The collection of wild prawn seed will be banned at Sir Arthur Cotton Barrage until further decision,” said the Joint Collectors in an official release.