Central Empowered Committee flags urgent environmental and infrastructure concerns at Kolleru Lake

The Central Empowered Committee (CEC), which reviewed the state of the ecologically sensitive Kolleru Lake, has raised alarm over escalating pollution, infrastructural neglect and unregulated aquaculture, threatening the future of one of India’s largest freshwater lakes.

The CEC, led by Chandrashekhar Goel, along with member secretaries J.R. Bhatt, G. Bhanumathi and members Sunil Limaye and Prakash Chandra Bhatt, conducted an extensive inter-departmental review meeting on Wednesday (June 18) at the Eluru Collectorate. The panel undertook a two-day inspection, including field visits and stakeholder consultations.

After a day-long field visit to Kolleru and its surrounding villages, the CEC took note of grievances from farmers, residents, and environmentalists belonging to Denduluru, Eluru and Unguturu mandals.

The CEC focused on the environmental, infrastructural and pollution-related issues affecting the Kolleru Lake ecosystem, one of India’s largest freshwater lakes. The committee directed immediate action across departments to restore ecological balance and safeguard local livelihoods. Post its declaration as a wildlife sanctuary, many village link roads and internal roads in the Kolleru region have fallen into disrepair. The committee expressed concern over the sanitary waste still reaching Kolleru via Tammileru drain and demanded strict enforcement of waste segregation and treatment protocols.

The committee zeroed in on the severe contamination caused by irrigation drains and urban sewage flowing into Upputeru—the outflow channel of Kolleru Lake. Highlighting health and environmental hazards, the committee sought detailed assessments from the Pollution Control Board and Fisheries Department.

The CEC also asked for an urgent report detailing the types of fish cultivated in Kolleru; health effects of consuming contaminated fish; use of chemical fertilsers and pesticides; and ecological impact of fish farming practices.

Mr. Goel directed the Irrigation Department to submit a comprehensive report on desilting and pollution mitigation efforts. The officials said 114 drainage outlets—47 non-notified within the 5th contour zone and 67 beyond—continue to channel untreated waste into the lake.

The committee has sought reports on the maintenance of existing roads and issues surrounding new constructions within the sanctuary limits.

Eluru Municipal Commissioner Bhanu Pratap said that a new 50 Million Litres per Day (MLD) sewage treatment plant is under construction. Currently, only 5 MLD of the city’s 32 MLD wastewater is treated.

Fisheries Commissioner Ramasankar Naik said waste from Vijayawada travels via Budameru and eventually reaches Kolleru, aggravating pollution levels. 

Pollution Control Board EE Venkateswara Rao has been tasked with monitoring water quality used in aquaculture,  contamination of local drinking water sources and industrial effluent discharge into the lake.

The CEC has directed all departments to submit compliance and progress reports through the District Collector. These will be compiled into a report to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), which is expected to guide future conservation and livelihood policies for the Kolleru region.

District Collector K. Vetriselvi, who coordinated the meetings, felicitated Mr. Goel and the committee members with shawls and mementoes, acknowledging their commitment to addressing the complex challenges facing Kolleru.

Assembly Deputy Speaker Kanumuru Raghurama Krishnamraju, Zilla Parishad Chairperson Ganta Padmashree, MLAs Kamineni Srinivas (Kaikaluru), Chintamaneni Prabhakar (Denduluru) and Patsamatla Dharmaraju (Unguturu), Forest Special Chief Secretary Anantaramu, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Ajay Kumar Naik, SP K. Pratap Siva Kishore, DFOs Shubham and Vijaya, DRO V. Vishweshwara Rao and RDO Achyut Ambarish and others were present.

Published - June 18, 2025 07:57 pm IST