The Tamil Nadu government has begun the process of denotifying some eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) parts of the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary.Environmentalists fear the move will lead to industrial expansion, harming the fragile wetland ecosystem on which the livelihood of thousands of fishermen depend.
Pulicat Lake
- Pulicat Lake is the second largest brackish water lagoon lake in India after Chilika Lake.
- Pulicat Lake is located about 60 km north of Chennai.
- This lagoon lake is separated from the Bay of Bengal by Sriharikota Island (site of the Satish Dhawan Space Centre).
- The lake covers an area of about 720 square kilometres, of which more than 80% lies in Andhra Pradesh and less than 20% in Tiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.
- Most of the lake lies in Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh.
Rivers
- The lake is fed by the Arni River at the southern end and the Kalangi River from the northwest.
Biodiversity
- It houses aquatic life ranging from mudskippers, seagrass beds and oyster reefs to over 200 bird species, including migratory birds such as the Eurasian curlew, oystercatcher, bar-tailed godwit, sand plover and greater flamingo.
Bird Sanctuary
- In 1980, the lake was notified as a bird sanctuary under Section 18 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
- Under Section 18 of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, the State Government may declare an area as a sanctuary if it has substantial ecological, faunal, floristic, geomorphological, natural or zoological importance with the objective of conserving, propagating or developing wildlife or its environment.
Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ)
- According to the National Environment Policy (2006), “ESZs are areas which are rich in environmental resources and have inestimable value and require special attention for their conservation”.
- As, these areas are of utmost importance due to their landscape, wildlife, biodiversity, historical and scenic values.
- The concept of ESZ was conceived during the 21st meeting of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) of India held in January, 2002 when the Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 2002 was adopted.
Objective of ESZ
- To protect the environment and prevent its degradation due to anthropogenic activities.
- To create a barrier/shock absorber for a specific ecosystem.
- To act as a transition zone from high protection areas to low protection areas.
Objective of ESZ
- To maintain the level of interaction of an ecosystem within the permissible limits with respect to environmental parameters.
- To notify the area as eco-sensitive zone and to regulate developmental activities in a sustainable manner keeping in view the needs and aspirations of the local people.
Effect of ESZ notification
Effect on farmers/people living in the villages of the concerned area
- There is no restriction on the ongoing agricultural and horticultural practices, dairy farming, aquaculture, fisheries, poultry farms, goat farms, food related units etc. by the local communities.
- Also, local people can carry out construction work on their land for their own use within the ESZ.