Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan has stressed the need for a holistic conservation and protection of the Chilika lake. He wants both conservation and protection of the ecosystem associated with the largest lagoon of Asia.
Pradhan met Unesco Country Head Shigeru Aoyagi here on Monday in this regard.
The Unesco in association with the ONGC is planning to support development of the Chilika as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The ONGC in partnership with the Unesco has developed long-term and short-term plans for conservation of the lake.
The aim is protection of the animals and birds, improving livelihood of the fishing community, tourist guides and local population, direct income generation and welfare activities at Mangalajodi, etc, said Pradhan.
He said special focus should be given to improvement of livelihoods of people associated with the lake. He advised the ONGC to associate local partners in implementation of the various projects.
Pradhan assured that he would seek support of the State Government, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change and the Union Ministry of Culture in the context of nomination and selection of the Chilika lake as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
