Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government will prepare a detailed project report (DPR) for the long-term protection of Chilika Lake and the revival of its ecosystem, with technical support from IIT Madras, Forest, Environment and Climate Change Minister Ganesh Ram Singhkhuntia said in the state assembly on Tuesday.
In a written reply to a question by Jharsuguda MLA Tankadhar Tripathy, minster Singhkhuntia said the project aims to tackle the growing problem of siltation in the lagoon.
“The depth of Chilika Lake ranges from 0.38 meters to 6.20 meters. However, silt carried by rivers, tributaries, and canals in the catchment area is gradually filling the lake, with nearly 8 lakh tonnes of silt entering the lagoon every year. Irregular rainfall due to climate change and natural calamities like floods and cyclones adds further silt to the basin,” he said.
The minister added that in the past five years, 3,26,716 cubic meters of silt have been dredged and the canals restored.
Data from the Chilika Development Authority show that fish, prawn, and crab production in the lake has remained stable and no adverse impact has been reported on surrounding villages.
