4 days ago
Will reach out to Centre seeking protection of Kakinada wetlands: BJP leader
Former Kakinada District BJP President Chilukuri Ram Kumar, announced on Sunday that the party would reach out to the Central government to protect and conserve the Kakinada wetlands, under the control of the Salt Commissioner's Organisation (SCO), as they are crucial for the coastal security of the Kakinada Smart City in Andhra Pradesh.
The announcement follows after the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Ministry of Commerce and Trade, in principle, consented to transferring 1,245.28 acres of land to the Andhra Pradesh Maritime Board (APMB). The Kakinada District authorities are now engaged in assessing the cost of the 1,245.28 acres of land that is under the jurisdiction of the SCO.
The Chollangi and Gurajanapalli wetlands are spread in 626.37 acres of the 1,245.28 acres of land near Kakinada city.
In an official release, Mr. Ram Kumar said; 'The decision to transfer the wetlands (SCO's lands) to APMB cannot be welcomed. The Chollangi wetland, adjacent to Coringa mangroves, falls in the Central Asian Flyway zone of migratory birds and qualifies to be declared as an Important Bird Area in Andhra Pradesh. The Chollangi wetland needs to be protected as the Smart City of Kakinada is expanding. This wetland can be compared to the Navi Mumbai wetlands of Mumbai city that play a vital role in coastal security.'
He added that public representatives are being consulted before reaching out to the Central government authorities for the protection of the wetlands.' Additionally, Kakinada-based environmentalists and Non-Governmental Organisations are also being consulted in regards to the conservation of the wetlands.
