The state of Orissa informed the High Court on Tuesday that the Fisheries and Animal Resources Development Department has enlisted an expert to conduct a study on the livelihood of fishermen in Chilika. The Chilika Development Authority (CDA) has employed a consultant to assess the ecological impact on the lake in response to the fishing policy mandated by the high court.
During the court’s review of the progress in finalizing the fishing policy for Chilika, Diganta Routroy, Additional Secretary of Revenue & Disaster Management Department, revealed that Dr. V Sampath, former advisor to the Ministry of Earth Sciences, estimated that the comprehensive analysis of the livelihood aspects of Chilika fishermen, integral to the policy, would take approximately four months.
Furthermore, Routroy highlighted that Dr. Ritesh Kumar, Director of Wetland International (South Asia), submitted an interim report emphasizing the need for measures in the draft fishing policy to preserve the lake’s ecosystem. The engagement of experts signals a concerted effort to balance the livelihoods of Chilika’s fishermen with the imperative of maintaining the ecological health of the lake.