Bhubaneswar: In June 2008, the erstwhile Planning Commission had visited Chilika Lake to take stock of the situation under National Wetland Conservation Management Programme. The plan panel had then recommended a slew of measures to ensure proper upkeep of the brackish lake.
The Planning Commission report (June 24, 2008) called for a legislation to regulate the lake’s affairs. However, 10 years down the line, the state is yet to have a legislation to regulate the affairs of the lake from fishermen’s point of view as well as issues concerning its environment.
The planning body in its report had said, “Strict enforcement of the Orissa Marine Fishing Regulation Act, applicable to Chilika, needs to be ensured by the Fisheries department. The draft Chilika Regulation Bill-2002, subsequently redrafted by Chilika Development Authority (CDA), is yet to be passed by the Assembly. The CDA should pursue the matter with the state government and ensure passing of the Bill.”
Law on Chilika must to protect lake
- The Planning Commission report had called for a legislation to regulate the lake’s affairs
- The state is yet to have a legislation even though 10 years have passed
- In 2010, the state govt had decided to introduce Chilika (Regulation and Fisheries) Bill 2010, but in vain
Experts believe Chilika affairs are more or less unregulated due to the absence of a stringent law. For instance, some accidents have taken place due to lack of safety measures, mining mafia has mushroomed, fishermen and others have lost their livelihood, among others. However, experts opine that the demand for a law on Chilika has been raised for more than 30 years.
“The demand started in the 1990s under the Chilika Bachao movement. In 1994, a committee was also formed under Ghanashyam Das, an economist, who looked into the issues and suggested a law. The Odisha Environmental Society (OES) also made similar demands but everything went into cold storage till now,” Jaya Krushna Panigrahi, an environmentalist and member of OES, said.
The draft of a legislation to regulate Chilika was thought of in 2002. In 2010, the state government had decided to introduce the Chilika (Regulation and Fisheries) Bill 2010, but in vain. The state Cabinet in July 2017 had approved a proposal for introduction of the Odisha Regulation of Fishing and Fisheries in Chilika Act, 2017. Still, nothing happened.
Manish Kumar, op