Report filed by the District Collector, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh regarding pollution and encroachment of Kolleru lake, 02/04/2024
Report filed by the District Collector, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh regarding pollution and encroachment of Kolleru lake.
A news item published in Enadu newspaper, January 23, 2024 said that illegal fish ponds were being dug in Kolleru lake and due to these illegal fish ponds, the Kolleru lake is being polluted. Further, construction of regulators which was proposed to prevent the sea water into Kolleru lake to protect the agriculture land from salination effect has not yet started. The report said that at the time of inspection, there is no illegal digging of fish ponds happening in Pydichinthapadu village, Eluru rural mandal. Due to the high tide the water was turning into salty water in the lake. An extent of 10111.16 acres of land is under illegal pisciculture.
Two eco tourism spots namely Atapaka and Madhavapuram are developed to encourage tourism of birds getting revenue for the livelihood of the local people. Proposals for further eco tourism spots are being envisaged and an identification process is undergoing. The resurvey of Kolleru lake is under process with LiDAR instrument and the results are expected soon. Cases were booked and are being booked whenever encroachment attempts are made by the vested interests for fish tanks formation. Nearly 670 cases have been filed against encroachments in Kolleru wildlife sanctuary from 2006.
The Environmental Engineer, Andhra Pradesh Pollution Control Board (APPCB) has stated that the APPPCB has been monitoring the Kolleru lake on a regular basis. As per the findings of the analysis of water of drains as well as lake water, no pesticide residues beyond standards was observed. Further, no industrial discharges are allowed into Kolleru lake.