Kolleru Lake to be developed as tourist honeypot

Eluru: The Centre has given its nod to revive the 136 Kolleru Fishermen Cooperative societies and allow the breeding of fish in the fish ponds under Plus Five contour in Kolleru lake area.

It may be recalled that the State government under G.O 120 issued during 1999, has taken up Operation Kolleru in 2004 in Kolleru lake area and dismantled the fishponds of 136 Kolleru fishermen cooperative societies under Plus five contour.

The G.O envisaged to protect the Bird Sanctuary under Plus Five contour and dismantled all the ponds in that area.

The earlier Congress government has passed a resolution requesting the Centre to minimize the contour level from five to three so as to enable the fishermen to breed the fish in the ponds.

After the TDP came to power, it also categorically disclosed that the Kolleru Abhayaranya (Wild Life Bird Sanctuary) will be minimised to 3rd contour from 5th contour.

Following this, Eluru MP Maganti Venkateswara Rao (Babu) made representation to Union government several times to reduce the contour level from five to three so as to enable the fishermen to eke-out on fishing. With the GO 120, the fishermen cooperative societies are almost liquidated in Kolleru area.

There were clashes over the fishing in the ponds between Kolleru people and the forest officials as and when the latter tried to catch the fish in the remaining ponds. In wake of these problems, the Centre has agreed to revive the 136 fishermen societies to enable the Kolleru villagers to breed the fish in the ponds.

Eluru MP Maganti Venkateswara Rao (Babu) told media on Friday at his camp office that soon orders will be released from the Centre on this issue.

He said 50 acres under each society will raise the fish in the ponds and the 136 socieites will raise the fish in 8,000 acres. Moreover, the Zirayiti farmers will also be benefitted with these orders.