Environmental activist expresses concern at degradation of Kolleru Lake

Environmental activist Bolisetty Satyanarayana urges urgent action to protect Kolleru Lake from ecological degradation and illegal aquaculture.

The Kolleru Lake, which had thrived as a thriving freshwater ecosystem for several centuries, supporting biodiversity, livelihoods, and natural flood regulation, has suffered a sustained and measurable decline in its ecological health during the last 50 years, according to environmental activist and national convener of Jal Biradari Bolisetty Satyanarayana.

There has been a sustained and measurable decline in the ecological health of Kolleru Lake since 1975 due to reduction in natural water spread, expansion of aquaculture activities within the boundaries of the lake and alteration of natural hydrology. The successive governments and the enforcement agencies in the State have not only failed to protect the lake but also resorted to violation of court orders on its protection, Mr. Satyanarayana told media persons, here, on Sunday (March 22).

The approximate lake area was 2,22,600 acres in 1975, based on satellite mapping and spatial analysis, the area under aquaculture/encroachment as in 2025 is approximately 1,28,000 acres and the remaining open water area is 94,000 acres. These figures indicate a significant transformation of a natural wetland into altered land use zone, he explained.

He appealed to the Centre and State governments to stop the illegal aquaculture activities in the lake and demanded pushing out the encroachers, failing which citizens and stakeholders would be compelled to launch an agitation for protection of the lake.

He explained that the degradation of Kolleru Lake has far-reaching consequences. These include: decline in migratory bird populations, loss of traditional fishing-based livelihoods and increased pollution from untreated inflows and aquaculture discharge and weakening of natural flood buffering capacity. These are not isolated environmental issues as they directly affect human safety, economy and long-term regional stability.

Underlining the importance of immediate corrective action, Mr. Satyanarayana called for a time-bound restoration plan, institutionalisation of independent monitoring of the lake using satellite data and strengthening of accountability mechanisms. A decisive and accountable action was the only way forward, he added.