Greens Concerned Over Lack Of Steps To Protect Kolleru Lake
Environmentalists allege that inadequate action against encroachments and illegal fish tanks is harming Kolleru Lake despite Supreme Court directions to protect the wetland.
Environmentalists have raised their concern over the current status of Kolleru lake with no measures initiated to protect its sanctity even after the Supreme Court recently directed the state government to protect it.
The government has submitted a proposal for rationalisation of nearly 20,000 acres of Zirayithee and D-Form Patta lands from the Kolleru sanctuary boundaries, to the central empowered committee on October 15 in New Delhi.
The greens are raising a hue and cry over the encroachment of the lake bed by acts like setting up of fish tanks that affected the biodiversity and ecology in 2006, and had pleaded their case in the apex court.
The Kolleru lake is internationally acclaimed to be a freshwater wetland and designated as a Ramsar Site in November, 2002. Environmentalists allege that no proper safety norms have been followed to protect it from encroachments, as in the setting up of fish tanks illegally, and such actions badly affected the local ecology.
They say that such unauthorised encroachments on the lake bed resulted in a flooding of the fields. There, they note, is no proper way to empty the water into the sea through Upputeru. This is causing pollution of water bodies including irrigation canals. The discharge of effluents from the tanks badly affected the ecosystem.
Environmentalist and petitioner in the Supreme Court, K Mrutyumjaya Rao, said, “We moved the apex court hoping that the sanctity of the Kolleru lake and sanctuary be protected but there seems to be no stress on this. Instead there is focus on other issues, which is very unfortunate.”
A massive drive had been taken up in April, 2006 following a directive from the Supreme Court to dismantle the illegal fish tanks in Kolleru sanctuary located below the plus-five contour limits, involving nearly 1,500 tanks spread over 40,000 acres. Subsequently, a majority of the dismantled tanks were restored with no proper mechanism to keep a check on such illegal practice.
The state government’s proposal to pay compensation to owners for nearly 15,000 acres of private zyrayithee lands located in the sanctuary limits, worth around `655 crore from the compensatory afforestation fund management and planning authority was rejected by the central government.
Another move by the state government to reduce the size of the sanctuary from plus-five contour to plus-three limits has also been turned down by the central government.
Patanjalai Sastri said, “Our prolonged legal fight to protect the Kolleru lake is yielding no positive result. The government should protect the lake that is designated as Ramsar Site to restore its past glory. There is no need for shrinking its size; and if a need arises, the procedure is cumbersome. The Wetland Secretariat in Switzerland has to accept it.”
Infographics:
Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary notified through GO Ms 120 dated 04-10-1999 is spread over 77,138 acres up to the plus-five contour
The standing committee of the national board for wildlife at its meeting in March, 2018 recommended deletion of nearly 20,000 acres of private lands from sanctuary
The Supreme Court directed the CEC in April, 2026 to examine the sanctuary boundaries and settle private rights under the provisions of Wildlife (Protection Act), 1972.
