Brief
Background of Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary (KWLS)
It
was in the earlier term of Sri N. Chandrababu Naidu as Chief Minister
of undivided AP State,
realising the significance of invaluable Wetland Ecosystem of
international importance, the
Kolleru Lake was notified as “Kolleru Wild Life Sanctuary” (KWLS)
for protection of Birds & other Wildlife in the area, by issuing
G.O.MS No 120 of 04-10-1999.
The
boundary of KWLS runs along the Contour +5MSL, covering an area of
30,855.20 hectares or 308.55 Sq. Km, spreading across 7 Mandals of
West Godavari district and 2 Mandals of Krishna district of A P
State, covering a total of 74 villages in both the districts.
Aqua
Boom sounded Death –Knell of KWLS
Some
of the rich enterprising farmers of the area, taking advantage of the
Government inaction, converted their lands in KWLS to aquaculture and
reaped rich harvests. The sudden riches of the aqua farmers,
encouraged others with political clout, to invest in setting up fish
tanks on large scale, leading to an Aquaculture Boom in utter
disregard to KWLS Rules.
The
encroachments
of
KWLS,
continue
to take place unchecked, even after AP High Court Order in July
2001, directing the authorities to ensure removal of encroachments of
lake bed and to bring back Kolleru Lake to its pristine glory. The
gravity of the situation could be judged from the fact that more than
25% of area covered by KWLS was under illegal encroachments.
Operation
Restoration of Kolleru
The
directive of Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of Supreme Court and
the Farmers outcry about the floods damaging their crops in the
upstream of Kolleru during 2005, had driven the State Administration
to launch “Operation Restoration of Kolleru” for dismantling
illegal commercial fish ponds in the Sanctuary Area. But,
unfortunately this operation was short lived because of political
pressure by the powerful Aquaculture lobby. Having succumbed to the
pressure of the uncouth lobby, the then AP State Legislative Assembly
in 2008 passed a resolution for reduction of the area of KWLS, by
changing its boundary from +5 to +3 Contour, unmindful of its adverse
socio-economic
& ecological consequences.
Dr.Azeez
Committee
MOEF,
GOI constituted the Expert Committee, under Chairmanship of Dr.Azeez
in April 2010, to study the proposal of A.P.Govt. for reduction of
the area of KWLS from + 5 Contour to + 3 Contour. Dr. Aziz Committee
Report clearly stated that the reduction of the area of KWLS is not a
viable solution for various socioeconomic & ecological issues
confronting the Lake Kolleru and It will lead to destruction of a
very valuable ecologically important area for short sighted benefits.
22
nd Standing Committee Meeting NBWL
The
Standing Committee of National Board for Wild Life, chaired by then
Minister for Environment and Forests, GOI, in its 22 nd. Meeting held
on 25-04-2011, accepted the recommendations of Dr. Azeez Committee
Report in Toto.
The
Minister stated, as Chairperson of the Standing Committee would take
forward the Report as appropriate, to the State Government of AP for
its implementation. Also stated that formulation of appropriate R&R
policy would need to be taken up by the State Govt. immediately. The
R&R Policy, should include the amount required for compensation
to the affected people on this count and budgeted & provided by
the State Government.
Lack
of Follow up Action by MOEF & AP State Govt.
Dr.Azeez
Committee emphasized the urgent need for conducting re-survey of
boundaries as of now, using advance GPS Technology and to be
completed within a period of 18 months. But unfortunately nothing
much seems to have happened so far in that direction, even though
about 4 years have lapsed after accepting the recommendations of the
Committee.
Because
of shrinkage of the area covered by KWLS, the floods
resulted by “Cyclone
Nilam” of
November 2012, in various drains–Budameru, Tammileru etc.- that
empty into Kolleru, have caused the water levels to rise and cross
the +8 Contour. This has resulted in flooding of several colonies
along the banks of Budameru in Vijayawada City, for several days.
Hype
of Present AP State Govt. for Development
It
is unfortunate that same .N. Chandrababu Naidu, the architect of KWLS
in 1999, is behind the Resolution passed by present AP State
Legislative Assembly on 22-12-2014, seeking recommendation of the
National Board for Wildlife for reduction of boundary of KWLS from +5
to +3 Contour.
It
is ironical that AP State Govt. advocating development of newly
formed State and the State Capital on the models of Japan and
Singapore, is working overtime
for
destruction of Kolleru, one of Asia’s most ancient & largest
fresh water lakes and invaluable Wetland ecosystem of international
importance.
Appeal
If
the proposed reduction of KWLS boundary from +5 to +3 Contour,
reducing its area by 25000 acres & leading to its destruction, is
permitted, the
prestigious Biodiversity Conventions, National Wetland Rules,
Identifying the Kolleru as a Ramsar Site and as a National Wetland
etc, will have no meaning.
In
the light of the urgency & importance of the matter, AP State
Government and the Govt. of India, be urged to implement the
recommendations of Dr. Azeez Committee for protection of KWLS, and
restore public confidence in the Rule of Environmental Law , which
gets ignored in the name of Economic Development.
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