Kolleru lake in Andhra facing multiple threats

Visakhapatnam: Kolleru Lake, considered a favourite nesting ground for migratory birds and peerless fishermen’s paradise, one of the largest freshwater lakes in the world, is in news again for another attempt to destroy its fragile ecosystem.

Located near Eluru town between the Krishna and Godavari deltas, green activists have been shouting from rooftops that it has become over the years an endangered biodiversity due to massive encroachments.

It was declared as a bird sanctuary in 1999 for hosting an estimated 193 bird species. The size of the lake has not only shrunk substantially due to encroachments but also the muddy ground in the lake has led to flooding on several occasions. The reason for reduction in its volume and size are due to increase in aquaculture, agriculture and industrial runout resulting in drastic fall in its water holding capacity. The Government of India following concerns expressed over various quarters had launched ‘Operation Kolleru’ long ago to prevent environmental degradation and safeguard ecological balance.

In a letter to Leena Nandan, Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MEFCC), former IAS officer and social activist E A SSarma stated on Sunday that multiple threats have been posed by various agencies under the State Government to the fragile ecosystem of Kolleru Lake, a unique Ramsar wetland system that supports rich biodiversity.

He alleged that the latest is an attempt by a local legislator to initiate work on digging a pond within the fifth contour of Kolleru, which is prohibited. Apparently, the local forest officials who are expected to safeguard the wetland system failed to stop the work.

He reminded MEFCC that there are ongoing proceedings on Kolleru before the National Green Tribunal and the Ministry is a respondent in that case.Sarma asked MEFCC to intervene in the matter and ensure that the Ramsar site is fully protected at the earliest.

In October, the social activist had informed the MEFCC that the State authorities have notcared to monitor the water quality parameters periodically, whereas the wetland is being subjected to encroachments from all fronts. He said there is a political lobby trying to compress the extent of the wetland by two contour levels (fifth contour and third contour), which will cause irreversible adverse changes to the rich biodiversity of the wetland. Within the wetland system, there have been attempts to widen narrow bridges to permit plying of heavy vehicles, which will play havoc with the ecology of the wetland, as evident from remarks made by environmental activist Mrutyumjaya Rao, who made detailed studies on the Kolleru developments.

Operation Kolleru

• Declared as a bird sanctuary in 1999

• Endangered biodiversity due to encroachments

• MEFCC should take action to safeguard

• State authorities have not cared to monitor

There is a political lobby trying to compress the extent of the wetland by two contour levels which will cause irreversible adverse changes to the rich biodiversity of the wetland. Within the wetland system, there have been attempts to widen narrow bridges to permit plying of heavy vehicles, which will play havoc with the ecology of the wetland

- Social activist

EAS Sarma