PUDUCHERRY: More than two and half years after Puducherry’s largest water tank, Oussudu, was declared a bird sanctuary in October 2008 and wetland in June 2009, the Government on Wednesday announced a Rs 10-crore action plan for its conservation over a period of five years.The draft Common Management Action Plan (CMAP) prepared by the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History (SACON), Coimbatore, was analysed by the State Steering Committee, under the chairmanship of chief secretary R Chandramohan at its first meeting held on Wednesday. SACON was appointed as a consultant by the Department of Forests and Wildlife. Deputy Conservator of Forests A Anil Kumar told Express that the changes proposed during the meet would be incorporated in the action plan and sent to the National Wet Land Conservation Board under the Ministry of Environment and Forests to draw funds for its implementation. According to a survey conducted by SACON, as many as 164 species of birds have been found visiting the lake. These include 73 aquatic species and the rest terrestrial. Kumar added that 10 species of amphibians, 29 of reptiles, 21 of fish and 12 species of mammals were also found there.However, K Ramamurthy, president of Sempadugai Nannirangam, an NGO, said that about 300 species of birds used to visit the place. The numbers had come down due to lack of conservation efforts, he added.Environmentalists felt that there were several issues that needed to be addressed with regard to Oussudu. The tank, spread across 390 hectares and located 12 km west of the Union Territory, was constructed during the Vijayanagar Empire and falls partly under Puducherry (60 per cent) and partly in Tamil Nadu (40 per cent). A major portion of the tank, which is fed by the Suthukeny channel, goes dry during some parts of the year. The fragile eco-system of the sanctuary is under threat from poachers and is contaminated with sewage, industrial effluents and garbage. Fishing and boating also pose a threat. “The birds are caught and supplied to some hotels,” alleged Ramamurthy. Water in a particular area is blocked and emptied for catching fish. Further, the lake is littered with thermocol used by the fishermen to mark their nets. The area adjoining the tank are dotted with a restaurant, a children’s park and a few benches for visitors put up by the Puducherry Tourism Development Corporation, and all wastes generated from there can be seen floating in the tank. Garbage is dumped on the banks in several locations, while some of the waste is also burnt. Voluntary organisations like the Pondy Can and Sempadugai Nanniragam claim that effluents from nearby industries, medical college and other organisations are discharged into the tank. The draft plan proposes that artificial islands, complete with trees for nesting of birds, be set up here. Kumar said that the entire stretch of road surrounding Oussudu up to Patthukannu would be fenced to prevent littering.Already, about `50 lakh has already been released, with a part of the funds allotted to the Puducherry Cooperative Building Centre for fencing.
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