We seek the Centre’s intervention to prevent rapid industrialisation of wetlands. B. Tulasi Das, CPI(M)’s research wing head, threatens legal action.

A report by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History on Sompeta wetlands has turned out to be a shot in the arm for civil society groups, which are opposing the multi-product industry in Sompeta as well as the Bhavanapadu port project in the district.

The report submitted to the Union government in 2012 had suggested that no industrial activity be allowed in ‘beelas’ of Sompeta, Bhavanapadu and Naupada swap, which are very close to Bhavanapadu, as they are the lifelines for thousands of families.

According to the report, Naupada, Sompeta, Itchapuram and Pondi are large wetland complexes, and they are ecologically and economically important, as they store huge quantity of water, thanks to streams and channels and connectivity to the sea through a creek. Incidentally, the Sompeta beela, which spreads across 2,000 acres, is habitat for more than 121 bird spices and 493 plant spices. The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources has kept several birds in the red list, too.

More than one lakh people from as many as 30 villages depend on wetlands for irrigation and drinking water. The Naupada swamps play a major role in flood and siltation control, enhancing the recharge of ground water in hundreds of villages in Santabommali and Vajrapukotturu mandals, where the government has proposed the Bhavanapadu sea port project.

The Bhavanapadu wetland protects thousands of spot-billed pelicans and painted storks of Telineelapuram. Meanwhile, the CPI(M)’s research wing head B. Tulasi Das has requested the Union Ministry of Environment and Forest not to give the go-ahead for the multi-product industry and the sea port, as, according to him, they will destroy the ecological balance and make the lives of lakhs of people miserable, while denying drinking and irrigation water to them.

“The Salim Ali Centre is a world renowned organisation, and its report cannot be taken in a casual manner. We seek the Centre’s intervention immediately to prevent the State government from going ahead with the rapid industrialisation of wetlands. We will approach the court if necessary, since the Supreme Court has given several rulings for the protection of water bodies,” Mr. Tulasidas said.

Paryavarana Parirakshana Sangham (PPS) president Y. Krishna Murthy said the Green Tribunal had also directed the government not to establish the thermal project in Sompeta.

“The government is planning to set up industries in wetlands at any cost. The residents of Sompeta will not allow any industrial activity, even if the government comes with convincing names such as multi-product industries,” he added.

The SACON report can’t be taken casually.