06-bioresourcesstatu.. - M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation

in September, 2000. The old mouth at Arakhkuda
also continues to exist after the opening of the new
one. According to sources from CDA, after the
opening of mouth the fish yield of the lagoon has
increased dramatically. The overall ecology has
also improved. It is claimed that after the
intervention that Penaeus indicus, a species of
prawn indigenous to Chilika, which was thought to
be almost extinct, has reappeared (The Hindu,
New Delhi, 20/11/2000).
In an effort to augment management of habitat at
Nalabana sanctuary the Chilika Wildlife Division
of the Forest Department of Orissa has taken up
plantation of Nalabana Island \vith Phragmites
karka along with earth mounding, creek
renovation and extensive plantation of Casuarina
at the sand bar separating the lake and the sea,
Bay of Bengal. With an objective to reduce the
weed menace, the Orissa Renewable Energy
Development Agency (OREDA), Bhubaneswar, is
encouraging utilisation of weed from Chilika for
generation of biogas. Biogas plants are being
installed in some of the villages adjoining the weed
infested northern sector of the lake on pilot basis.
The Orissa Government has constituted a special
task force to prevent the killing of migratory birds
arriving in Chilika Lake as well as for demolition
of unauthorized gheries for prawn culture on a
regular basis. The task force, comprises officers
from the wildlife wing of the forest department,
revenue and fishery departments, and supported
by a police force are doing the routine patrolling.
The INS Chilka is also providing necessary cooperation
to prevent killing of migratory birds
besides providing adequate protection inside the
Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in the lake.
The Office of the Assistant Director of Fisheries
(Biology and Technology) is yet another
establishment of the State Government located at
Balugaon, started in 1957.The above office keeps
the statistics of fishermen population depending
on Chilika, looks into their welfare, and records
data on fish catchment at different fish landing
stations in Chilika and also the physico-chemical
parameters from different fish landing stations
time to time. The office records the yearly fish
catchment on the basis of fish catch from 12 fish
landing stations from different points in Chilika
lagoon. The office is also responsible to construct
and maintain jetties at the fish landing stations,
namely 1. Bhusandapur and Balipatnapur, 2.
221
Chilika Lake
Soran, 3. Nairi, 4. Palur, Sabulia, 6. Pathara, 7.
Kalupada, 8. Balugaoan, 9. Rambha, 10. Satapda,
11. Krushnaprasad, and 12. Hatabaradi. Presently
out of the twelve the jetties at the first four have
been handed over to FISHFED. Construction of the
rest of the jetties are still in progress. The office is
responsible for implementation of Orissa Marine
Fishing Regulation (OMFR)ActlRule, implemented
in the year 1985 that regulates the registration,
license and renewal of fishing boats in Chilika.
iv. Non-Government
Project Bihang. an NGO based in Bhubaneswar,
actively involved in ecological research on birds in
Chilika lagoon. Pallishree, a NGO,is active taking
up environmental education and awareness
programmes supported by several national and
international agencies in several villages of
Krushnaprasad Block of Puri District.
Chandrashekhar (1992) had analyzed the social
structure of fishermen community of Chilika
lagoon that included community and family
structure, stat~s of fisherwomen in a family and
their role in decision-making process, health of
fisherwomen, dietary and cooking habits and
practices, and role of co-operatives.
Yet another NGO by name Wild Orissa, in
collaboration with CDA and Chilika Wildlife
Division of the Forest Department is active in
educating the local communities, particularly, at a
few villages such as Bhusandapur, Gerasara,
Mangalajodi, Kalupadaghat, Sorana etc. under
the' northern sector in dissuading against
poaching and hunting the birds. 'Mahabir Pakhi
Surakhya Committee' and 'Chilika Bird Protecting
Club' are a few recently formed NGOs, which are
undertaking environmental awareness
programmes involving the local communities (Ama
Samayara Abhibykti Satabdi, the Fortnightly
Magazine in Oriya, 31/10/2001). Efforts are also
being made by the CDA, Law and Forest
Departments and the local Allahabad Bank
motivating local people to stop poaching of birds in
the region (The Samaj, Oriya Daily, Cuttack, 26/
09/2001).
Table.8 lists some of the prominent local NGOsand
people's organizations (POs), which are active in
restoration of the ecology and implementing
environmental and social awareness programmes
in and around Chilika.