The overexploitation of biodiversities and mismanagement of various ecological systems have caused an alarming situation across the globe.
The decrease in number of avifauna visiting to various eco systems of Odisha clearly says to what extent the damage is done.
Chilika ecosystem can be taken as a case in point. Though there is a phenomenal rise of the number of migratory birds to the lagoon this year thanks to the intense cold in the ongoing winter season, but ecology of the lake is under severe pressure.
The water spread area or the wetland area of the eco-system is maximum 1,165 sq km and minimum 740 sq km and “sandbar” which is a part of the lagoon is 60 km in length and 0.6 km to 2 km in width. Similarly, the number of rivers and rivulets draining in to the lake is 52. The total Island area of the lagoon is 223 sq km. The lake’s mouth which is most important to maintain the equilibrium of salinity of the water of the lagoon is situated near 70 villages. The whole wetland is divided into four ecological divisions based in ecological process of the nature.
Mainly such sectors are northern sector, central sector, southern sector and outer channel. The lagoon needs scientific ecological management to render sustainable economic living of the people who are dependent entirely on its eco system. The ecology and the economy are both sides of a balance. If the ecology is lost, the economy cannot survive and the whole human-culture cannot last long. The depth of water of the lagoon varies from 0.38 meter to 4.2 meter.
The catchment area is approximately 3,560 sq km which maintains the entire wetland. The whole catchment area of the lagoon is a portion of the Eastern-Ghat region. If the portion of the Eastern- Ghat is not protected and conserved properly, the lagoon cannot last long.
The question of viability of entire Chilika always depends on the proper soil management of its catchment areas. Due to improper soil conservation measure, the whole Chilika eco-system is very rapidly silted up and the whole biosphere is going to lose its importance. The ecology and the economy of the region is not balanced properly.
A total of 12,363 fishermen families depend on the lagoon for their livelihood. Besides the fishermen families, there are 132 fishermen villages around the Chilika lagoon. Now, 66 fishermen cooperative societies are running in the region which is under threat due to gradual depletion of output of aquaculture of the lagoon. There are 12 jetties, which entirely depend on fish productions of the lagoon. So the ecological food chain of the region has to be maintained, which the State administration should know to mobilize its planning. The winged water-fowl visiting population, especially during winter, goes up more than one million and 156 bird species are seen in various forms.
The geographical location of the brackish lagoon is quite unique. The boundary of the brackish body is distinctly marked through the Bay of Bengal in east and rocky hills of Eastern-Ghat in west. The alluvial vast rich plain of the Mahanadi is there in the north and in south are also the rocky hills of Eastern- Ghat. The whole lagoon comes within the revenue districts of Puri, Ganjam and Khurda. The physical appearance of the brackish water lake looks spear-shaped.
Now, the unique lagoon is pitted against three measure eco-disaster risks. One is coastal highways along the sea-coast and over the Chilika lagoon itself, which will produce constant threat to biosphere function of the nature. The ecology must be maintained as the regional climate of a region always depends on the micro-climates of that particular region.
No doubt, certain groups of people largely benefit through prawn cultivation and in prawn trades but the health of the ecology of Chilika is gradually poisoned through ecological health hazards created by them. The whole process of prawn culture artificially carried out is very destructive to human-systems and the systems of the animal bodies.
The Chilika Development Authority is spending large sum of money for development of Chilika lagoon, but unless the destructive practices are totally stopped and the body of the Chilika is not given appropriate rest for revival of its ecological damages, it will be difficult to revive the process of various eco-systems of the lake.
Another ecological threat is arresting water of the Mahanadi in Chhattisgarh. If the major water of the river is diverted to industrial units, how can the world famous lagoon surviveIJ The drying of the stream will no doubt spell doom.
(The writer is an environmentalist, 9937460649 (M), Email: nadiya.kanungo@gmail.com)