It would impact the lake’s biodiversity: politicians, fishermen

The Airports Authority of India’s move to set up a water aerodrome in Odisha’s Chilika Lake has stirred a controversy.

Local politicians cutting across party lines, green activists and fishermen in Chilika have all opposed the proposal to set up an aerodrome in one of Asia’s largest brackish water lagoons, asserting that it would impact the lake’s biodiversity.

On August 11, Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu announced that an in-principle approval had been granted for a water aerodrome in Chilika in the first phase. A team of officials of AAI, Directorate General of Civil Aviation and SpiceJet airline had conducted a pre-feasibility study in the lake earlier in June.

The proposed project has caught many unawares as adequate consultations have not been held for the project.

Fishermen under the aegis of the Chilika Mastchyajibee Mahasangha, a federation of local fishermen unions, fear that the livelihood of around two lakh fishermen from 150 villages in and around the lake spread over the districts of Khordha, Puri and Ganjam may be affected on account of loss of spawning ground.

Prafulla Samantara, winner of the Goldman Environmental Prize, has accused the Centre and the State governments of tinkering with the biodiversity of the lagoon, which is designated a Ramsar site – wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.

A senior officer of the State Forest and Environment Department said no scientific study has been conducted to assess the possible impact of the project on the lake’s ecology. “We should not go ahead with the project without a proper scientific study. We do not know the height at which the seaplanes will fly above the water surface and the level of sound they would generate. The seaplanes will run the risk of bird-hits. The endangered Irrawaddy dolphins are sensitive to sound pollution,” the officer said.

Instead of Chilika, the official suggested that Tampara Lake in Ganjam district may be considered for the proposed water aerodrome. Tampara Lake, being close to both Chilika Lake and National Highway 16, would serve the purpose well, he added.