Kolleru Wild Life Sanctuary Limping Forward?

I visited Kolleru Wild Life Sanctuary (KWLS) on 4 th February, after a lapse of about seven years, since the last visit to KWLS. The visit was confined to Environmental Education Centre ( ECC ),located in the area of around 5 fish ponds, dismantled during the operation in 2005 and there after, at Atapaka village in Kaikaluru Mandal of Krishna District. Watching the vast water spread, dotted with bunds providing habitats, with some sort of nesting facilities for sizable number of migratory birds is like a dream coming true, KWLS again becoming live, as a feeding and breeding ground.

The link for viewing the pictures taken during the visit is given below:

Kolleru Bird Sanctuary Feb 4 2012

If KWLS is to be restored to its pristine glory, the following issues need to be attended on a priority basis:

1. Inadequate nesting facilities. While taking action to develop the right species of plants for providing nesting facilities in natural environment, more nesting stands made of steel and wood may be provided.
2. Lack of security to nesting places. The areas earmarked for nesting are to be protected from human and live stock activities.
3. The danger of poaching still seems to be a threat to the Birds, which needs to be guarded against by involving local communities.
4. Apart from some fishponds which still exist between +5 and +3 contours, there are fishponds just abutting sanctuary area on the pretext that they are above +5 contours. Even if they are above +5 contour, they are to be governed by Wetland Rules (C&M) 2010 and The Water (Prevention & Control of Pollution) Act 1974.
5. Necessary steps need to be initiated to remove the Fish Ponds that still continue to operate in notified Sanctuary Area up to +5 Contour, in spite of the resolution for reduction of Sanctuary Area from +5 to +3 contour, passed by AP State Legislative Assembly, which is questionable.
6. The discharge of industrial effluents from the industries and domestic sewage from the townships in the catchment area of the sanctuary needs to be phased out in a given time frame, in coordination with APPCB.
7. The issues of livelihood and employment for the stakeholders in KWLS need to be given the hugest priority, while taking care of providing safe drinking water, healthcare and education facilities.