Committee to study issues of locals around Kolleru lake

The government will constitute a committee to study the problems being faced by the fishermen and locals in the villages around Kolleru lake, Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar said here today.
Javadekar visited Kolleti Kota village near Kolleru lake, which falls between Krishna and West Godavari districts, and enquired about the problems they have been facing due to administration's action after a Supreme Court order.
Kolleru lake, the largest inland lake in the country, has witnessed illegal dwelling and activities in the recent years, following which some environment activists had approached Supreme Court, claiming illegal occupations around the lake have done a lot damage to the nature.

They had said the migrating birds have not been arriving at Kolleru lake due to encroachments.
The apex court then constituted an Empowerment Committee to study the issues, which submitted its report. Based on the report, the SC directed AP government to demolish the encroachments.
Ever since the encroachments are being removed, locals are protesting, saying that if their lands and fish tanks which have been cultivated for a long time, it posses a threat to their livelihood.
"I am not your representative, but I will take up the issue in the Parliament as your spokesperson. A committee will be setup within a fortnight to study problems and demands of the people," he said.

Javadekar also took an aerial view of the lake. State ministers B Gopalakrishna Reddy and Dr K Srinivas, who is also the local MLA, were also present during the visit.