Chilika fishers robbed of livelihood since Cyclone Fani opened new mouths

Chilika fishers robbed of livelihood since Cyclone Fani opened new mouths

Subject :Environment

Section: Places in news

Context: The delicate salinity gradient of the lake disrupted; locals claim Odisha government’s Chilika Development Authority (CDA) not monitoring new mouths regularly.

More on the News:

• The intense storm surge that had accompanied extremely severe cyclone Fani in early May 2019 had opened four new mouths in the Chilika Lake in Odisha. These were distinct from the main mouth of the lake where it opens into the sea.
• While two of the new mouths closed down in April 2022, two others are still open, affecting the biodiversity of the lake and the livelihoods of the people dependent on it.
• The mouth has moved 2 kilometres northwards since Cyclone Fani made landfall between Chilika Lake and Puri.
• If the new mouths do not close down and sea water continues to enter the lake, it could be disastrous for the ecosystem as the biochemistry of Chilika would change.
• Fish catch has gone down by 30-40 per cent after Cyclone Fani.

Chilika Lake:

• Chilika is Asia’s largest and world’s second largest lagoon.
• It lies on the east coast of India in the state of Odisha, separated from the mighty Bay of Bengal by a small strip of sand.
• It spreads over Puri, Khurda and Ganjam districts of Odisha on the east coast of India, at the mouth of the Daya River, flowing into the Bay of Bengal, covering an area of over 1,100 square kilometers.
• It is the largest wintering ground for migratory birds on the Indian sub-continent and is home to a number of threatened species of plants and animals.
• In 1981, Chilika Lake was designated the first Indian wetland of international importance under the Ramsar Convention.
• Major attraction at Chilika is Irrawady dolphins which are often spotted off Satpada Island.
• The large Nalabana Island (Forest of Reeds) covering about 16 sq km in the lagoon area was declared a bird sanctuary in 1987.