At the outset the Wild Orissa welcomes the move by the Union Government for notifying Eco Sensitive Zone around the Bhitarkanika ecosystem. The Bhitarkanika is the second largest mangrove ecosystem in the country, which has much significance with regard to ecological, geo-morphological and biological background that includes mangrove forests, rivers, creeks, estuaries, backwaters, accreted lands and mudflats. This ecosystem flourishes in the deltaic region, formed by the rich alluvial deposits of Brahmani, Baitarani, Maipura and Dhamra rivers.
The ecosystem has over the years been suffering from destruction of mangroves due to reasons for settling humans etc, pollution from boats/trawlers, effluents sourced from upstream urban/industrial areas flowing in rivers, rapid growth of human population both inside and outside the protected area, illegal aquaculture farming, setting up of the Dhamra Port on the northern part, siltation due to deforestation in higher reaches, increasing man-animal/reptile conflicts, rapid urbanization and industrialization in the areas outside the protected areas, drawal of water from the river system by industries and urban metropolises, proposals for large-scale developmental projects along the upstream stretches of the Brahmani, Baitarani, Maipura and Dhamra rivers and increasing social infrastructures etc.
Wild Orissa has the following comments/suggestions.
(1) There appears to be a genuine cause for enhancing the proposed 2km wide zoning to at least 10 km around the protected areas so that an adequate buffer could be put in place in view of adverse conditions.
(2) Since the notification of the Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary, much of erstwhile mangrove forest cover has disappeared. There is a priority need for undertaking natural regeneration alongside with plantations of species available in the ecosystem.
(3) Section 3 (Measures to be taken by State Government) the following amendments are proposed:
a. The mention of Mangroves be made specific in provisions contained in for land Use
b. There is need to mention of rivers, creeks, estuaries, backwaters in the final notification
c. Emphasis on water pollution needs to be made in the final notification and there is a priority need to make mention of this and also lay down guidelines for the State Government to address the problems afflicting Bhitarkanika ecosystem.
(4) Natural regeneration of mangroves along with plantations of mangrove species found in the ecosystem needs to be specifically provided in the final notification.
(5) In the list of activities prohibited or to be regulated within the Eco-Sensitive Zone, the following comments/suggestions are being made:
(a) Agriculture, Dairies, etc. needs to put in place in category ‘Regulated’ as there is a need to exercise controls over an ever-expanding growth of agriculture and dairy activities due to continuous increase in human population, as this has been going on only by way of diverting mangrove forests. (b) Vehicular traffic including boats at night needs to be elaborated to be made for full 24 hours period for a day and to lay down no traffic of boats to be allowed during months which experiences congregation of sea turtles and during fish breeding/spawning periods. (c) Introduction of exotic species needs to be placed in category ‘Prohibited’ (d). Vegetative fencing needs to be placed in category ‘Regulated’ since there are empirical evidence to show that activities adversely affect the vital biological processes going on in mudflats.
Wild Orissa urges the authorities concerned to expedite final notification for Eco- Sensitive Zone around the Bhitarkanika ecosystem.
(The writer is chief spokesperson, Wild Orissa)