Green rules choking Pulicat lake

Nellore: Dredging of the three sea mouths of Pulicat lake, the second largest brackish water body, is being hindered by wildlife rules made for protecting the bird sanctuary which a home to a variety of flora and fauna. The lake system has not been getting adequate fresh water flow which is making it face the prospect of drying up. Thanks to rules of the eco-sensitive zone, no dredging activity is being allowed.

The 481-square kilometre lake is an important habitation for 160 different fish species and more than 110 varieties of terrestrial and aquatic birds, small mammals and reptiles. More than 60,000 migrant water birds, including flamingos, visit the northern part of the lake in winter and the state government has been celebrating Flamingo Festival every year.

Nearly 40,000 people who are living in 34 villages on the Tamil Nadu side and 25,000 people existing in 15 habitations in Andhra Pradesh depend on fishing in the lake system for livelihood. The closure of lakes mouths has been giving nightmarish experience to the people as the lake becomes shallow due to accumulation of sand at Kondurupalem and Rayadoruvu in Vakadu mandal of Nellore district.

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu promised Rs 48 crore for opening the mouths for free flow of water into the lake system in January. Since then, the issue has been a subject of debate.

In fact, the three sea mouths at Tupilipalem, Pudirayadoruvu in Vakadu mandal and also at Pulicat village in Tamil Nadu where these vents have been gradually closing with sand bar formation.

The National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) earlier recommended opening of north mouth close to Rayadoruvu village in Vakadu mandal to improve water flow into the northern part of the lake by constructing two walls to prevent closure of the sea mouth.