The Sundarpur village, located on the shores of Chilika in Khurda district, joined hands with the Chilika Wildlife Division and the Wild Orissa for conservation of birds and their habitat in the lake.
A bird protection committee, consisting of one-time poachers and hunters of birds, i.e., 'Sri Sri Baba Muktesar Deva Pakhi Suraksha Samiti’ having 35 members took oath before lord Shiva for protecting the birds' habitat in and around their village, at a function organised at Sundarpur village.
Wild Orissa vice chairman Nanda Kishore Bhujabal presided. Former Chief Commissioner of Customs Naba Kishore Bhujabal, Chilka Wildlife Division DFO Bikash Ranjan Dash and Sarpanch Mamata Dei graced the occasion in the presence of village elders and others from Sundarpur village.
Sanghamitra Das, Suchitra Sahoo, Pradipta Patasenani, Aindita Khatua from the Wild Orissa, Samiti president Bidyadhar Pradhan, secretary Babula Das, Nikhila Bihari Parida amongst others were present.
The meeting deliberated on the experiences from over two decades of bird conservation in Chilika by the Wild Orissa in partnership with Chilika Wildlife Division, local community, hunters and poachers, etc.
It was resolved to conserve both resident and migratory birds and their habitat.