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Listing as Ramsar site in limbo
Ramsar site status (place in register of Montreaux Records) offers any wetland that is rich in bio-diversity, protection from external forces that are causing imbalance. Though Kolleru Lake had been accorded the status in August 2002, Pulicat Lake has not been considered for such status, courtesy official apathy from State government.
- No effort from State government to bat for status
- Centre announced funds for tourism projects in the region but nothing about status
Nellore: Ramsar site status (place in register of Montreaux Records) offers any wetland that is rich in bio-diversity, protection from external forces that are causing imbalance. Though Kolleru Lake had been accorded the status in August 2002, Pulicat Lake has not been considered for such status, courtesy official apathy from State government.
The Montreaux Record is a voluntary mechanism to highlight specific wetland of international importance under the Ramsar convention that is facing immediate challenge. The Montreaux Record is a register of listed Ramsar sites where changes in ecological character have occurred, are occurring, or are likely to occur as a result of technological developments, pollution or other human interference. There are over 2,000 Ramsar sites across the world and India has 26 sites that have been listed.
Pulicat Lake, the second largest brackish water lake in the country, which runs parallel to the Bay of Bengal across the Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh, has still not been considered in the list even though many ecologists and environmentalists in Tamil Nadu were demanding for such status for a long time. The criteria for the inclusion in the list mandate that the wetland should include irreplaceable and vulnerable species and habitats. Though Pulicat Lake has many such species lack of lobbying is proving detrimental.
According to the Wild Life division, there are 115 species, both aquatic and birds that live in the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary. The division reported that the lake attracts 80 different species of birds every winter. It is believed that these birds do migrate from Ladakh, Tibet and China. Species like Spot Billed Pelican, Painted Stork and White Ibis are often spotted in the vicinity of the lake.
“It is pathetic that no sincere efforts on part of the State government or from local environmentalists were put in to achieve Ramsar site status. Environmentalists in Tamil Nadu have been demanding for the status for a long time. But, in Andhra Pradesh, the efforts were minimal. So, the status confined to announcements only,” said a senior official from the Forest department. It should be noted that even though the Union government announced huge funds for tourism development in the region, it is yet to take up the cause.
