Naupada Swamps &Telineelapuram Destruction - Misleading Information ?

The following points about "Naupada Swamps and Telineelapuram", which were brought to the kind notice of Hon'ble AP High Court in W.P No.9360 of 2009, are highlighted below:

a) The "Wildlife Institute of India" Dehradun highlighted the importance of Naupada Lagoon in its Study Report on "Integrated Protective Area System ( IPAS)" for development of AP World Bank Forestry Project.

b) The Study on "Eco Restoration of Bhavanapadu Mangroves" carried out by Andhra University from March 2005 to April 2008, as part of the major research project sponsored by MoEF, G.O.I, highlighted the rich Flora and Fauna of the area. .The Study Area comprises of a cluster of villages/hamlets/habitations associated with a tidal creek that opens in to the sea through Bhavanapadu Creek, which is part of Naupada Wetland.

c) The Study Report of "Bombay Natural History Society" ( BNHS ) titled "Of Pelicans and Power Plants" highlighted that Telineelapuram is designated as an "Important Bird Area ( IBA)" by Birdlife International, in recognition of its global importance of avifauna. Also highlighted the importance of near by Naupada Swamps, rich in fish and other nutrients essential for breeding and survival of the visiting Pelicans and Storks.

d) India became a party to three international Conventions, namely, the Convention on Wetlands ( Ramsar, 1971) in 1982, the Convention on Migratory Species (Bonn, 1979) in 1983 and the Convention on Biological Diversity (Rio, 1992) in 1994. Conservation of endangered species of birds and other flora and fauna, associated with a marine-terrestrial ecosystem such as Naupada-Telineelapuram area thus comes within the ambit of the mandatory responsibility of conservation on the part of the Wild Life Authorities and Dept of E&F of the State.

e) State of Environment Report of AP has listed Naupada swamp as a wetland system to be conserved. The swamp forms part of the migratory route of birds and any construction activity in the area which is a nesting and feeding habitat for many endangered species will go against the spirit of conservation.

f) The draft Wetland (Management & Conservation) Rules 2008 prepared by the Department of Forests, for constitution of "Wetland Authority of AP", identified 7 Wetlands and "Naupada & Telineelapuram" is one of them.

g) The Handout issued by AP Forest Department on "Wetlands of Andhra Pradesh" refers to "Naupada Swamps" as one of the 55 Wetlands prioritized in the State.

h) Even though Telineelapuram is not notified as protected area, AP Forest Department purchased some land in the village and constructed Bird Observatory House and Watch Tower as a testimony to the importance of Telineelapuram. The plaque commemorating the construction of Bird Observatory House was revealed on the occasion Wild Life Week on 21-10-1986.

Clarification to MoEF, G.O.I

The E A C on Environment for Power Projects of MoEF, G.O.I in their meeting held on 16-12-2008, regarding proposed 2640 MW Power Plant of M/s East Coast Energy Private Ltd at Kakarapalli Village, Santhabommali Mandal, Srikakulam District, sought clarification on certain points with particular reference to the existence of the Ecologically Sensitive Area in the proximity of the plant site, drainage plan etc

But unfortunately, the Dept of E&F, Govt of AP, in its letter dated 9-2-2009 addressed to the Secretary, MoEF, GOI,giving clarifications seems to have ignored the fact that the plant site is in low lying area of well recognized Naupada Swamps itself and Telineelapuram is hardly 5 Km from the project site.

Misleading Information

It is stated in the letter, that, regarding Ecologically Sensitive Areas, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests,AP, certified that there are no National Parks, Sanctuary, Elephant / Tiger Reserve / migratory path (existing as well as proposed) etc., within 10 KM radius of the proposed project site.

It is further stated in the letter that Environmental Ecology studies of the project site and the immediate neighborhood indicates that the area is not conducive for the visit and stay of large birds. The project area is neither a foraging ground nor nesting ground for large size migratory birds such as Pelicans & Storks.

Conclusion

In the light of information/facts mentioned in various references quoted above, the information furnished by Dept of E&F, AP appears to be suppression / distortion of facts, based on which EAC recommended and MoEF, G.O.I accorded Environmental Clearance for Power Project, which may have to be reviewed taking the facts and the ground realities into consideration.