Odisha Govt to Restore Chilika Lake’s Ecological Balance

Bhubaneswar, Jan 3 : The Odisha government has decided to undertake comprehensive restoration work to revive the ecological balance of Chilika Lake, Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon and a designated Ramsar site, following concerns over the deterioration of its brackish nature due to silting at the lake’s mouth.

Works Minister Prithivraj Harichandan has directed officials of the Works Department, the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and IIT Chennai to immediately initiate restoration measures and prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) based on thorough scientific studies.

Chairing a high-level meeting on biodiversity conservation and development of the Chilika region, the Minister said silting at the lake’s mouth has disrupted the natural exchange of water between the lake and the sea. This has restricted the inflow of seawater, adversely affecting the lake’s brackish character and disturbing its ecological balance.

The disruption has resulted in fluctuations in fish populations and other marine species, posing a serious threat to Chilika’s rich biodiversity and the livelihoods of communities dependent on the lake.

Discussions during the meeting focused on dredging the blocked lake mouth, removal of accumulated silt to enhance water-holding capacity, biodiversity conservation, development of surrounding areas, and protection of livelihood opportunities for local fishermen and residents.

The Minister said the Chief Minister would soon be briefed on the outcomes of the meeting, and the proposed restoration plan would also be shared with the Central Government.

Senior officials from the Forest, Environment and Climate Change Department, the CDA and IIT Chennai attended the meeting. Among those present were Member of Parliament Dr Sambit Patra, Principal Secretary Bhaskar Jyoti Sharma, IIT Chennai Professor Dr Neelanjan Saha, CDA Chief Executive Yogajay Nanda, and Chilika DFO Amlan Nayak.