The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Re-emergence of fishponds in Kolleru causes concern

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Sunday, Sep 30, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Re-emergence of fishponds in Kolleru causes concern

Staff Reporter

ELURU: The Kolleru Development Committee on Saturday expressed serious concern over the re-emergence of fishponds in the plus five contour of the lake in the post ‘Operation Kolleru’ period.

Addressing a press conference here to coincide with the visit of the Advocates’ Committee of High Court on Kolleru, committee president M. Padmanabham and vice-presidents – T. Patanjali Sastry and V.V. Parthasaradhi – held the administration responsible for the disturbing trend.

Mr. Padmanabham cited the reported statement of the Krishna district Collector “misinterpreting” the contour levels of the lake, leading to resumption of pisciculture in the sanctuary area.

The Collector was alleged to have stated in the media that fish tanks in an extent of 6,000 acres above the plus five contour falling under the Krishna district were dismantled by the administration during the Operation Kolleru due to its “wrong interpretation” with respect to the lake contours. “It is nothing but a clear case of allowing re-emergence of ponds in the sanctuary area and contempt of court,” Mr. Padmanabham charged.

The committee leaders observed that the government-sponsored ‘Operation Kolleru’ helped in only partial restoration of the lake with fishponds in over 3,000 acres still remaining untouched.

Underlining the need to save the Krishna-Godavari basin from the onslaught of sea water ingression by saving the lake from encroachments, the committee leaders wanted the advocates’ committee to visit the lake basing on the satellite images to get a first hand information on resumption of pisciculture in the sanctuary area.

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