Sensors would be installed at 10 strategic locations in the Chilika lake as a part of the monitoring system to telemetrically transmit data to the research centre on real time basis, every 15 minutes.
A decision to this effect was taken at the governing body meeting of the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) presided over by
Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. Chilika would be the first lake in Asia to go
for such state-of-the-art hi-tech monitoring system for which ` 3.21 crore will be spent.
The governing body also approved “strengthening of wetland research and training centre and bio-diversity conservation of Chilika lake” under the Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) project.
It was decided that the State Government will soon bring a new legislation to check pollution in the lagoon by curbing prawn cultivation and other activities.
“We are taking certain steps to ensure that the environment of the lagoon remains pollution free,” the Chief Minister said, adding that the fishermen of Chilika undertook a fish trade worth ` 143 crore in 2011-12.
Experts attending the meeting said prawn cultivation destroys environment of the lake. While the CDA had already engaged two excavators to demolish illegal prawn ponds in the lagoon, eight such machines would be procured to expedite removal of illegal prawn ponds.
The Chief Minister also asked the authorities to provide financial assistance to primary cooperative societies of fishing communities. While ` 2 crore was given to 16 primary cooperative societies earlier, Naveen on Monday asked officials to earmark ` 4 crore to be distributed among 40 such societies.
This apart, it was also decided that 3,500 highly efficient insulated ice-boxes to be distributed among the community. Plans are also being made for developing fishing jetties in the lake in order to boost export of fish products.
The proposal for upgradation of visitor centre at Satapada at a cost of ` 51.48 lakh was also approved.