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Salinity of Chilika Lake may go up

BERHAMPUR: The salinity of the Chilika Lake, the largest lagoon in Asia may be affected by the opening of the new mouth near Gabakunda during the recent monsoon. The erosive action of the sea had opened up a new opening of the lagoon with the sea on August 1 at a distance of one and half kilometres from the Sipakuda confluence point of the lagoon with the sea.

Although the marine experts say this new opening poses no threat to the near by villages yet it would surely have some impact on the ecosystem of the lake. Most immediate effect would be on the salinity of the lake.

The salinity level of Chilika Lake varies from nine to 11 PPT at different points. It may be noted that the average salinity of the sea water is around 18 PPT.

Marine scientists like Prof. R.C. Panigrahy of Berhampur University were of the opinion that increase in salinity level of the lake due to opening of the new mouth is expected to have some pressure on the flora and fauna of the lake.

The new mouth is at present more than 300 meters in width. According to Muntaz Khan, of Chilika Development Authority (CDA), during the monsoon season the fresh water zones in the lake near river mouths gets enhanced and rivers bring in micronutrients into the lake.

It increases growth of phytoplankton leading to the rise of zoo-planktons, which are food of fish and arthropods.

Increased salinity level of the lake due to opening of new mouth would have impact on the plankton growth in the lake, subsequently effect the whole ecosystem. But the CDA scientists say they were no remarkable change. Yet they were keeping a close watch on the possible changes in future.

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