The country’s second largest brackish water ecosystem in the country, Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, spread across Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh faces a serious challenge after a draft notification issued by the Ministry of Environment and Forests called for reduction of the mandatory Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) around the sanctuary from 10 km to 2 km to facilitate construction of a world-class port and ship building centre in its vicinity.
The experts have called for immediate action against such move of Ministry, which has solicited public comments by March 3. The lake attracts large number of migratory waterfowl and is flocked by Greater and lesser Flamingos from October to April. Efforts are underway by Bombay Natural History Society and Salim Ali
Centre for Ornithology and Natural history to declare it as a wetland of international importance. The MoEF recently issued a draft notification to reduce ESZ from the proposed 10 km to 2 km. On September 16, 2013, the Government notified for the creation of a major shipping port with an extent of 5,028 acres at Dugarajupatnam of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary besides earmarking another 9,700 acres for future requirements.
However, the Ministry after a Supreme Court order in 2004, had issued guidelines on declaration of Eco-Sensitive Zones (ESZ) around all Wildlife Sanctuaries to act as “shock absorbers” by regulating and managing activities around them. All activities in the ESZ shall henceforth be governed by the provisions of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 and carefully regulated.
As per this guideline, the ESZ of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary was accordingly earmarked by the Andhra Pradesh Forest Department as 10 km. Dr Asad Rahmani, noted ornithologist expressing concern said, “The proposed port at Durgarajapatnam is at the mouth of the lagoon, and is likely to impede the flow of water into it. The suggestion of Andhra forest department must be followed to prevent further damage to this important site that gets lakhs of migratory birds each season. It needs to be conserved as cultural and natural heritage.”
Further, there 46 villages (16 island villages and 30 adjoining villages) who depend on the lake directly or indirectly for their livelihood. Such a move will also affect the livelihood of the fishermen in the area.
Dr K Mrutyumjaya Rao from the The Indian Bird Conservation Network in a letter to MoEF has pointed out that the sanctuary fulfils the ecological and natural criteria as notified by the Wildlife Protection Act. Hence, implementation of the major port either within the Eco-sensitive zone or at its periphery will be a potential threat.
“It is rather paradoxical for a country that has pledged support as a contracting party and key signatory to IUCN, Worldwide Fund for Nature, Bonn Convention (Convention on Migratory Species) under the aegis of UN and the Ramsar Convention, is now rescinding on its commitment to the international bodies.