As many as 29 teams on Thursday started surveying the Chilika lake as part of the second annual monitoring of the lagoon being done by the Chilika Development Authority (CDA).
CDA Chief Executive Office Susanta Nanda and a team of dedicated officers and officers are coordinating the entire job.
According to information, the teams would survey across the length and breadth of the lagoon from 6 am to 12 pm to find out the number, range and distribution of Irrawaddy dolphins, new areas of bird congregation, sponges that are appearing again after 1985 in parts of Chilika, extent of sea grass and reconstruction of evicted gharries, if any.
While the lake witnessed more than a million birds for the first time after 2004, the new areas of bird congregation need to be mapped out, said an official.
All the fishing and tourist boats have been requested not to ply from morning to 12 noon for the proper monitoring of the lake. Similarly, the tourists have been advised not to visit the lake in the morning hours, informed the official.
The teams comprise officers from CDA, Chilika Wildlife Davison, PCCF(WL) office, members from NGOs, members from the Boat OwnersAssociation, Wildlife Warden of Khurda and wildlife lovers.
The results of the monitoring are expected to help CDA and Chilika Wildlife Division in better management of the lake. The findings are likely to be made public by Friday evening.