THE ORISSA government, in direct violation of a Central order, has allowed the Tatas to continue work on the Chilka Aquatic Project.

In early June, the minister of state for environment and forests, Kamal Nath, had directed the state government not to proceed with the prawn culture project until the environmental issues were "fully examined". The Orissa administration, as well as the Tatas, have been curiously reluctant to give the Central ministry any details of the project.