Kolleru -Pelicans may loose their Paradise Again

With Dr. Azeez Committee not acceding to the proposal of AP Legislative Assembly for reduction of boundary of Kolleru Wild Life Sanctuary(KWLS)  from +5 to +3 contours, the political vested interests seem to have  shifted their pressure on to District Collector, Krishna district . As per the press reports, the District Collector asked Kolleru Wildlife Division Officials to demarcate the so called disputed area of 2576.79 hectors, within the limits of 3 villages of Kaikaluru Mandal, as they were omitted in the Notification for KWLS ( G.O.120 of October 1999), even though they are within +5 contours.

 

Pelicans may loose their regained Paradise at Atapaka

 

 The Grey Pelicans, which once populated Kolleru Lake, disappeared from there, with large scale encroachment of the Ramsar Site for aquaculture. The birds returned to the lake to nest after a considerable gap, only after fishponds were dismantled during "Operation Restoration of Kolleru" in 2005. The Environmental Education Centre (EEC) established by Wildlife Division in an area of 260 acres of dismantled fish ponds, at Atapaka village near Kaikaluru, had become a "Paradise for Pelicans" once again. Watching the vast water spread, dotted with bunds providing habitats and  nesting facilities for sizable number of migratory birds is like a dream coming true and KWLS has again become live for migratory  birds.

 

Once the so called disputed area to an extent of about 7,600 acres is demarcated as claimed by the vested interests, the EEC at Atapaka, the Paradise of Pelicans, left with only 2 acres of land will be doomed without nesting place. 

 

Early Action Required

 

 An early action be initiated for speedy implementation of the recommendations of Dr.Azeez Committee, in a given time frame, because of the importance and urgency of the issue emphasized by the Committee.  Pending initiation of follow up action, the District Collector Krishna district and other concerned agencies be restrained from pursuing the demarcation of the so called disputed area of 2576.79 hectors in Kaikaluru Mandal-Nesting Place in EEC, Atapaka.   

                  

 

             "Paradise for Pelicans"- Nesting Place in EEC at Atapaka

___________________________________________________________