Govt to Declare Satapada a Dolphin Sanctuary

seraph

This info came out a few days ago in the New Indian Express.

Wednesday September 14 2005 11:35 IST

BHUBANESWAR: The State Government has decided to declare Satapada in Chilika, a dolphin sanctuary and ban plying of motorised boats in this part of the lake.

A decision to this effect was taken at a high-level meeting in the Secretariat on Tuesday presided over by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik. High mortality rate of dolphins, the major tourist attraction to Satapada, has been cause of worry for the Government.

The number of Irrawady dolphins at Satapada is estimated to be more than 100. However, the mortality rate has crossed 10 per year. Plying of motorised boats and large fishing nets are stated to be the reasons behind the death of these mammals.

Only traditional boats will be allowed in that part of the Chilika lake, which will be declared a dolphin sanctuary. The boatmen will be made aware about the protection of dolphins. Roads to villages near Chilika will also be repaired and improved.

The Chief Minister directed the Tourism Department to prepare a package for Chilika. A team comprising Director, Tourism, Chief Executive of the Chilika Development Authority (CDA) and collectors of the districts concerned will prepare the package.

Among others, Chief Secretary Subas Pani, Agriculture Development Commissioner R N Bohidar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Bijay Kumar Patnaik, Principal Secretary in the Revenue Department T K Mishra, Principal Secretary in the Forest and Environment Department S P Nanda;

Principal Secretary in the Commerce and Transport Department Rajalakshmi, Tourism Secretary Ashok Kumar Tripathy, Secretary in the Fisheries Department Benugopal Sharma and Chief Executive of CDA Ajit Kumar Tripathy attended

rangers

Yes I have read this news in newspaper.
Lets us see howmany days it takes to reach the ground reality.
its a nice way to really save these areas.