• PAGE ONE
• INDEX
• HOME

Call to preserve Pulicat Lake

Our Bureau

SULLURIPETA (Nellore), Feb. 11

ENVIRONMENTALISTS have stressed the importance of conserving the Pulicat Lake spread across Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, the second largest brackish water lagoon in the country after Chilika in Orissa, for the sake of traditional fishermen dependent on it and the migratory birds, especially the exquisite flamingos which have made it their winter home.

Voicing concern over the future of the lake, at a seminar organised as a part of the three-day `Flamingo Festival-2001' which began here on Saturday, Dr. T. Rajyalakshmi, Dr. Felix Sugirtha Raj, Dr. K. Kathiresan and others said at the present rate of de gradation no lake would be left in 80 years or so and only a huge marshland (or wasteland) would be left.

Dr. Rajyalakshmi, an environmentalist, said the destruction of mangroves around the lake had increased the sedimentation rate and immediate steps should be taken to protect the remaining flora and fauna. Eco tourism should be promoted judiciously, she ad ded.

Ms. Aruna, of the Centre for Environmental Education, suggested that the local fishermen be provided alternative avenues of employment by developing the tourism sector to ease the pressure on the lake and overexploitation of the fisheries resources.

Mr. K. Praveen Kumar, the Nellore District Collector, said conservation of the lake was a challenge the environmentalists and the administrators should take up jointly, as more than 100 species of birds visited the Nelapattu and Pulicat sanctuaries. Puli cat lake would be developed as a gateway of tourism in Andhra Pradesh. The proximity of Chennai and Tirupati would make Pulicat an ideal tourist spot, he added.

Mr E.V.S Naidu, the Co-convener of the Flamingo Festival, said it would be made an annual event to sensitise and educate the local people and attract tourists. The main problems facing the lake were a steadily growing rate of siltation, overexploitation of fisheries resources and the destruction of mangroves.

He said the average depth of the lake at present was hardly 1-1.5 metres at present and it was estimated that in 80 years or so it would be totally filled up, if no steps were taken to arrest the trend.

The remedial measures suggested by experts were dredging at the lake mouth, regulation of fishing (limiting it to only traditional fishermen in the two States) and mangrove regeneration, he said and urged the Government to initiate the action.

Mr. P. Bhaskar Reddy, the district forest officer, said that a tentative annual plan had been prepared at a cost of Rs. 85 lakhs for conserving the lake on the lines suggested by the experts and afterwards a more elaborate five-year Plan would be prepare d and implemented.