Reduction of "Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary" Boundary

At the out set, the Hon'ble Chief Minister, AP deserves to be complimented profusely, for not going ahead with the proposal to reduce the boundary of Kolleru Sanctuary from +5 to +3 contour.

The protection and restoration of Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary to its pristine glory will be a befitting tribute to late Dr.Y.S.Rajasekhar Reddy, during whose earlier term as Chief Minister, the bold "Operation Restoration of Kolleru" was launched for dismantling fishponds encroaching into the Government lands in the notified Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary.

If the present opportunity provided to restore Kolleru Lake of International and National importance, to its Pristine Glory is missed or lost, not only the chance to do a Good Thing, but the Kolleru Lake itself, one of Asia's most ancient and largest fresh water lakes, is lost forever and at what cost for generations to come?

Adverse Impacts of Reduction

The attempt to shrink the area of the Kolleru Sanctuary by about 25,000 acres will reduce the water holding capacity to the dead storage, defeating the very purpose of notifying as a Wildlife Sanctuary. The reduction of water holding capacity of the Sanctuary, which serves as a natural flood- balancing reservoir for Krishna- Godavari basins, will lead to submerging of thousands of acres of agricultural lands in the surrounding areas.

It will ultimately prove to be disastrous to the famous Wetland –Kolleru- of international repute, nullifying the results of all the good efforts made during the last 5 to 6 years, to revive, the clinically dead Kolleru fresh water lake. This will have serious long term adverse impacts on ecological balance of the water body and the surrounding area.

Acquisition & Compensation for Private lands

The reduction of Kolleru Sanctuary boundary is proposed, mainly on the grounds that private lands to the extent of15,000 acres between contours +5 and +3, are required to be acquired at an estimated compensation of Rs.655 Crores to be paid for the lands at valuation rates prevailing in the year 2008.

It is universally accepted principle that common properties like Land, Lakes, Forests etc are not allowed the change of Land-Use and forced to produce products/services according to landlords will, market demand or social demand. Therefore No person shall change the land use in the sanctuary area up to +5 contour, irrespective of the ownership of the land.

The G.O.Ms.No 120 dated 4-10-1999 notifying "Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary" (KWLS) stipulates that traditional Agriculture without using chemical pesticides and fertilizers and traditional Fishing methods without causing environmental hazard shall be permitted in the private lands of the sanctuary, till the Government acquires such private lands. There is no immediate need to acquire the private lands in the Sanctuary area.

The total compensation amount of Rs.655 Crores for about 15,000 acres of private land, which works out to be more than Rs. 4 Lakhs per acre, appears to be very much on the higher side. The value of the land in the Sanctuary area will have to be worked out, taking into account that the land use cannot be changed, and it gets subjected to flooding for most part of the year.

Suggestions for Consideration

The following are suggested, in the order of priority, for kind consideration

Demarcation of Sanctuary Area up to +5 contour

a) The notified Sanctuary area up to +5 contour be identified as per Survey of India maps, to avoid any uncertainty/confusion between Revenue,Irrigation and Forest Departments and demarcated on the ground with light structures erected around the periphery for display of flags for easy identification of the boundary.

b) The "Operation Restoration of Kolleru" launched about 5 years back and seemed to have been left halfway , should be resumed immediately with full vigor and remove the half demolished fishpond structures and all other Obstructions / Structures which are prohibited in the sanctuary area.

c) The State level KWLS Monitoring Committee be constituted, including the representatives of civil-society, for periodic monitoring of the status.

d) The "Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary Authority" be constituted under the Chairmanship of the District Collector, West Godavari, accountable for ensuring ground-level coordination and implementation of the provisions of G.O.120 of 4-10-1999, which are a casualty even after 10 years.

Restoration with "Human Face" and Rehabilitation

a) Essential that Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary is restored, protected and preserved with a "Human Face" so that the original local Fishermen Community, the Migratory Birds and the Water Body live and let live in harmony, without the intrusion of Migratory/Local Fishpond Lobby and the Pollution form Industries & Urban areas.

b) The Fishermen and SC families in the Sanctuary area to be declared as project affected persons and offered help for rehabilitation with a special package ensuring Safe Drinking Water, Primary Health and Education facilities besides alternative livelihood practices.

Acquisition of Private Lands

a) The authentic and reliable data be compiled regarding the extent of Government and Private land holdings in the notified Sanctuary area up to +5 contour, taking into consideration the encroachments and fictitious transactions of government lands.

b) The particulars of genuine private land holders be classified under the categories of less than

5 acres, 5 to 10 acres and more than 10 acres.

c) The private land- holdings of less than 5 acres from small and marginal farmers, may be acquired by paying suitable compensation, taking into account the factors regarding land use change, frequent flooding etc

Prevention of Water Pollution of Sanctuary

a) The discharge, of untreated or under treated, Domestic Sewage from the towns in the vicinity and the Effluents from the Industrial Units around the area, into the Sanctuary or into the drains/channels discharging into it, should not be permitted. Strict action needs to be taken under Sections 24 and 25 of Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, as the bulk of pollution of the sanctuary is from these sources.

b)The Fish-Tanks outside the notified Sanctuary Area-beyond +5, are to be subjected to strict scrutiny for the Permission from competent authority, Land-Use change and the provisions of Section 25 of Water Act, 1974.

Other Measures

a) The channelization of the Sanctuary area should be undertaken cautiously, with the limited purpose of ensuring free flow of water from one basin of the lake to the other and not with the object of quick draining of water into sea.

b)The construction of Regulator on the channel connecting to Sea ,recommended by A.C.Mitra Commission, so as to maintain water level up to Contour +5 and to prevent ingress of Sea water and the lake from becoming saline.

c)The acquisition of private land-holdings between 5 to 10 acres and more than 10 acres may be considered , if the land owners have no other source of income and subject to availability of funds.

Conclusion

The Hon'ble Chief Minister is requested to consider and make use of the Life-time Opportunity for a "Good Deed", by restoring Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary to its Pristine Glory, and be remembered for ever like "Asoka"