Speakers at the inaugural session of the three-day international conference on geospatial technologies and wetland management at the Centre for Studies on Bay of Bengal of Andhra University here on Thursday regretted the condition in which the Kolleru lake is lying at present.
In-charge Vice-Chancellor E.A. Narayana, who inaugurated the conference, observed that the Kolleru lake, which is visited by a few lakhs of migratory birds every year, has lost its original shape and quality due to pollution and encroachments and wanted the scientists participating in the meet to find ways to protect the lake in full measure. Living things must be taken care of by protecting the environment, he said.
Former Vice-Chancellor of Krishna University K.M. Durga Prasad said the lake has some characteristics like water flowing from one place to another, deep lake bed, rare flora and fauna and home for a rare biodiversity. “It is also witnessing many changes regularly.” He regretted that a decision taken by the government in 1978 resulted in aquaculture coming up in a big way and simultaneously the destruction of the Kolleru lake.
Huge source
This lake has become a huge source of income and consequently became polluted as encroachments became rampant and biodiversity was affected, coordinator of the conference and former Rector of AU P. Rajendra Prasad said. A study was being made on the lake and its condition.
The huge lake, located between the rivers of Krishna and Godavari, has played an important role in human life of that region but encroachments have changed the ecological, social and economic aspects of the lake and its area has been drastically reduced and was not able to accommodate even the normal rain water, Prof. Rajendra Prasad, who is also the chief technical coordinator of Kolleru multi-disciplinary approach studies, pointed out.
Director of the centre P. Rama Rao and Principal of AU College of Science and Technology C.V. Raman also spoke. Delegates from several parts of India and also from France, Japan and the Netherlands are participating in the conference.
