Kolleru lake

The survival of Kolleru Lake has recently been under severe threat as aqua ponds continue to encroach and thrive in the heart of the wetland.

About the Kolleru lake:

• The Kolleru lake is Asia’s largest freshwater lake ecosystem, situated in Andhra Pradesh.
  • It is also the largest shallow freshwater lake in Asia.
• Kolleru Lake was declared as a ‘Ramsar Convention’ site in 2022.
  • The Ramsar Convention is an intergovernmental agreement dedicated to the conservation and rational use of wetland ecosystems.
• It is located between Krishna and Godavari deltas.
• Kolleru lake contains numerous fertile islets called lankas.
• It is a unique wetland ecosystem that serves as a breeding and feeding ground for 220 avianspecies including nearly 100 species migrating from the Palearctic region.
  • Reason– Kolleru Lake falls in the Central Asian Flyway Zone of migratory birds. 
• Avifauna: Siberian crane, ibis, painted storks, grey pelicans, Asian open-bill, painted storks, glossy ibises and white ibises etc.

Measures taken for protection of the Kolleru lake:

• In 1999, the State government declared majority of the area of the lake as the Kolleru Wildlife Sanctuary (KWS) under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972.
  • KWS is present between the basins of the Godavari and the Krishna rivers.
• In 2006, the Andhra Pradesh government executed ‘Operation Kolleru’ as per the directives of the Supreme Court and demolished 1,776 aqua ponds present within the KWS.
  • Operation Kolleru was aimed at protecting the KWS.
• The Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) surrounding the KWS will be identified by the state Forest Department through the survey and the area under encroachments will also be recognised.
  • Declaration of the site as an ESZ will help in conservation of the Kolleru Lake ecosystem, by restricting various activities.

Ref: Source