Kolleru lake, a wildlife sanctuary and wetland ecosystem, may be shrunk by 20,000 acres under pressure from aquaculture farmers and local residents. The proposal, which was first recommended in 2018, has been revived by the state government and is awaiting approval from the Central Empowered Committee (CEC).
The Kolleru lake management authority has suggested reducing the boundaries of the sanctuary by 20,000 acres, citing concerns about law-and-order problems due to opposition from local residents. The proposal has been adopted by the state cabinet and will be submitted to the Supreme Court.
Kolleru lake is India's largest freshwater lake ecosystem and is home to several vulnerable species and a variety of birds. However, the lake has been under severe threat due to large-scale encroachment by aquaculture ponds, which have extended to over 50% of the sanctuary.
Environmentalists have expressed concerns about the proposal, citing the need to protect the livelihoods of thousands of fishermen and the potential for further damage to the lake's ecosystem.
