The Long-Awaited Move Will Revive the Dying Lagoon on the Side of Andhra Pradesh

 Nellore: The central and state governments have okayed opening of the seaward mouth of Pulicat Lake, a critical brackish waterbody shared by Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. This marks a victory for environmental advocates committed to protecting the lake’s vulnerable ecosystem. It makes thousands of fishermen dependent on the lake happy, as their catch will increase.

In fact, Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), a wing of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, had in 2019 given a report favouring the opening of the sea mouth at Rayadoruvu in Vakadu mandal of Tirupati district, involving dredging operations in the brackish lagoon straddling Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.

However, the Tamil Nadu Fisheries Department resisted this, fearing that dredging will deepen the lake and shift the fish populations toward Andhra waters, impacting their own fishermen.

Fisheries’ authorities of Andhra Pradesh clarified that their initiative involves only de-silting to rejuvenate water flow and restore ecological balance, without altering the depth of the lake.

Following approval from the central government, AP government has directed the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB) to take up the task of opening the sea mouth. When done, it is expected to restore the lake's ecology and livelihood of more than 25,000 fishermen families residing on the AP side.

Presently, when the Pulicat Lake dries up during summer as the sea mouths towards Andhra Pradesh have got blocked, AP fishermen venture into the Tamil Nadu side of the sea, leading to repeated clashes, forcing authorities from both states to intervene.

A senior AP fisheries official maintained that opening of the sea mouth is purely an ecological restoration effort. “It is not an engineering intervention to divert marine resources,” he underlined.

The opening of the sea mouth of Pulicat Lake project is being seen as a sustainable solution to the dispute between AP and TN fishermen. It is expected to revitalise the lake’s fish and shrimp populations, essential for both local biodiversity and livelihoods.

The revival is expected to support the vast migratory bird populations that travel from as far as Siberia to Pulicat Lake and the adjacent Nelapattu Bird Sanctuary during winter.

The Pulicat Lake ecosystem is of immense ecological importance, hosting more than 90 migratory bird species and supporting rare and endangered birds like the spot-billed pelican, painted stork, spoonbill, and flamingos. It is the second-largest brackish water lagoon in India, offering an essential buffer against coastal erosion and a breeding ground for aquatic life.

Former district collector R. Muthyala Raju is one among the few officials who have taken a serious interest in the lake’s revival, including commissioning of SACON over the issue of opening the sea mouth.