RAMAYAPATNAM - PORT vs DUGARAJAPATNAM-PORT

   RAMAYAPATNAM- PORT                                            DUGARAJAPATNAM-PORT  

           
       






                                                                                                                PULICAT LAKE

Light house at Ramayapatanam                                          


                           
                                                                         

                                                                                Sriharikota SHAR Rocket launching pad



                       
                   
                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                               
     

ECO-SENSITIVE ZONES FOR VARIOUS WILD LIFE & BIRD SANCTUARIES IN A.P

THE CABINET COMMITTEE ON ECONOMIC AFFAIRS HEADED BY SRI MANMOHAN SINGH HON'BLE PRIME MINISTER TOOK A DECISION ON 09-5-2013  SANCTIONING SECOND   MAJOR PORT IN A,P AT DUGARAJUPATNAM IN A PROHIBITED AREA IN  NELLORE DISTRICT,DROPPING RAMAYAPATNAM RECOMMONDED BY GOVT. OF A.P

. THIS DECISION IS STATED  TO BE A VIOLATION OF PULICAT BIRD SANCTUARY ACT, INDIAN WILD LIFE ACT,   ,INDIAN WET LANDS ACT& RULES, INTERNATIONAL CMS AGREEMENT,, HON'BLE SUPREME COURT'S EARLIER JUDGEMENT,ORDERS AND GUIDELINES ISSUED BY THE CEC OF HON'BLE SUPREME COURT

ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE-EXISTING

(10KMS RADIUS FROM BOUNDARY OF PULICAT BIRD SANCTUARY)

                       2KMS RADIUS -PROPOSED BY THE UPA GOVT. AS ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE

The UPA Govt. in JANUARY 2014  attempted to reduce the ECO-SENSITIVE ZONE of PULICAT Lake to 2 kms by issuing notification and calling for objections from the Public. The PRAKASAM DISTRICT ABHIVRIDDI VEDIKA organised objections from 3 to 4 districts. The objections are detailed below.

From,                                                                                                    Date : 27/02/2014

M. Maruthi Rao                                                                                   GUNTUR, A.P.

Maruthi Nilayam,

2/6 Brodipet, GUNTUR,

A.P., PIN – 522 004.

Mobile : 8374312555

To

The Secretary

Ministry of Environment & Forests, GOI,

Paryavaran Bhawan, CGO Complex,

LodI Road,

New Delhi-110 003.

Most respected Sir,

            Sub :-      Pulicat  Bird Sanctuary – Protection  Zone – Notification dt 03-01-14 of Ministry of Environment & Forests Govt. of India, in Gazette seeking public opinion and  objections – Reg.

            I bring the following Matters to your kind notice for consideration.

A (1)   Kindly be informed that the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary had been declared  as protection zone under section 26-A of Wild Life (Protection ) Act 1972 in G.O.M.S.No. 91 EFC &T (For –III) Dept. dt. 26-12-97 and was published in Nellore District gazette on 30-12-1997. While the A.P. Portion of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary was established in 1976, the Tamilanadu Portion of the Sanctuary was established in 1980.  A (2)  The Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (WL) & Chief Wild Life warden (A.P) – Hyderabad mentioned the status of ESZs to 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries and 5 National Parks in his letter no. RC No.779/07/WL-1 DATED 5.03.2007 and asked the Special Chief Secretary to the Govt. of A P [Environment & Forests  and Science & Technology] to forward the same to the MOEF to file an affidavit in the Honorable Supreme Court of India, as per the orders of the later in the case of writ petition no. 460/04.  A (3)  It is presumed that the MOEF filed an affidavit to that effect in the Honorable Supreme Court of India,  after consolidating all the information received from all the State Governments. In that list of 22 Wildlife Sanctuaries, the status of ESZ of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary was mentioned as 5 & 10 kms. Therefore it is established that the existing eco sensitive zone of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary is maintained at 10 Kms almost for the past 10 years.  Accordingly  the Forest and Wildlife Authorities of the Govt. of A.P. are implementing the width of ESZ of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary at 10 kms and are thus protecting the same by  not allowing any non Forest activities in this ESZ such as establishment of Industries, Ports, Railway Lines etc. The stipulated limit of 10 Kms of Eco Sensitive zone from the boundaries of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary is a result of a conscious decision of Govt. of A.P. and Govt. of India.

            B) (1)   The draft gazette notification specifying the limit of eco sensitive zone of Pulicat bird sanctuary at 2 kms for protecting the flora & fauna of Pulicat lake is ill-conceived and a evil design to facilitate construction of the world class Major Port and Ship Building Unit between Dugarajapatnam & beyond Tupilipalem (located nearby Dugarajupatnam i.e. 2 km) and up to the place where Swarnamukhi river joins the sea, with utter disregard to the environmental protection policies.  A Gazette Notification bearing no.479 dated 16^th September 2013 was already issued by the Union Shipping Ministry (ports) to establish a Major Port at Dugarajupatnam which is located just at boundary line of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary.         B (2)  Undoubtedly, the establishment of major port in the above said location will be impossible, if the limit of eco fragile zone of Pulicat lake is maintained at present width of 10 Kms. Now fixing the limit of eco fragile zone of  this Pulicat Sanctuary  at 2 Kms,  in the guise of protection for the flora & fauna of Bird Sanctuary is a clear deception of public and aimed at destruction of the bio-diversity of the Pulicat lake and also the remaining extent 8 km eco sensitive zone (out of present 10 km) by removing the hurdle of 10 km ESZ for establishing a Major Shipping Port and a Ship Building Unit. More over the current notification is published in Gazette as if this protection limit of 2 Kms is fixed for the first time for the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary without any reference to the existing limit of 10 Kms ESZ, which is being maintained as such by the   Forest and Wild Life Officers of A P State, binding themselves to the affidavit given to the Honorable Supreme Court of India. While calling for the public opinion /objections,through this present Draft Notification,  no mention was  made about the fact  that at present the limit of eco fragile zone is maintained as 10 kms  and that now proposal is for reducing the ESZ  to 2 Kms  by making it a law. This way of Draft Gazette Notification is nothing but   concealing the facts and misleading the public.

            It may kindly be noted that the following threats to environment will be foreseen once the limit of eco fragile zone is reduced to 2 Kms

C  (1)   A Major Port will be established at Dugarajupatnam as per the above mentioned Gazette Notification of the Union Shipping Ministry in the locations quite adjacent to the eco sensitive zone which will cause immense irreparable damage to the environment of the Pulicat Lake  Bird sanctuary.

C (2)  There is every possibility of major oil spillage from the Ships, which will float in to the lake spreading several kilometers affecting the flora & fauna of Pulicat lake Bird Sanctuary.

C (3)    The establishment of Major Port will definitely lead in to a lot of construction activity and commercial activities all along the eco fragile zone leading to depletion of the Green belt and increased pollution of the lake due to wastes of various sorts that enter the lake.

C (4)    Several Industries will eventually come near by the Port all along the new eco sensitive zone which will lead to severe air pollution and water pollution damaging the flora & fauna of the lake.

C (5) Industrial effluents especially from Pharmaceutical industries and the leather processing industries that will come up in the foot steps of Major Port,       will enter the lake causing severe damage to the flora & fauna of the lake. If any Major Port in the world is examined by the Authorities of Union Environmental Ministry, they will come to know that several industries got foothold nearby the Port with an eye on exports. The Union Shipping Ministry estimated that nearly Rs 25 thousand crore capital will flow in to the ancillary industries near Dugarajupatnam, the proposed site for Major Port.

C (6)    The Thermal Power Plants  may also come up causing severe pollution by releasing toxic slurry containing fly ash effecting flora & fauna and also result in air pollution through the smoke that will be emitted by the Thermal Power Plants.

C (7)    The coal berths handling coal at the port and adjoining areas beyond this proposed 2 km long eco fragile zone will release increased quantities of carbon particles (suspended particulate matter) thereby increasing CO2 in the air causing air pollution which effects the health of human beings including the scientists of Satish Dhawan Space Centre and the birds seriously. If the proposed law is made  limiting the eco sensitive zone to just 2 kms, it is possible to establish Major Port and ancillary industries very near to this Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary. In fact the Authorities of Environment and Forests of both AP Govt. and Union Govt are supposed to make special laws  in the case of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary to protect it and to save it for the future generations. They are paid salaries from the tax payers’ money to protect the environment, forests, flora and fauna. It appears that the present concerned Authorities are seeming to have entered in to a conspiracy with lobbyists of Shipping Ministry to facilitate a Major Port beyond this  proposed 2 km long  eco sensitive zone. The Authorities appear to have conveniently forgotten to make laws of eco sensitive zones in the case of all other National Parks and Sanctuaries located in Andhra Pradesh.

C (8)    Establishment of Major Port will result in daily movement of several thousand trucks and wagons beyond this 2 km eco sensitive zone. Increased vehicular and rail traffic will cause sound pollution and air pollution through dusty air affecting the birds, flora & fauna in the Bird Sanctuary.

C (9)    Now a days, importing  of coal at Chennai port is not allowed and hence same will be shifited to Dugarajupatnam causing air pollution.  Once exporting of iron ore is also taken up, it will further worsen the situation of Pulicat Lake through high level of air pollution caused by iron ore dust. Already the neighboring Krishnapatnam port which is at 28 kms distance from Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary, got the reputation as a “dusty & dirty port”.  Recently the CEC of Supreme Court sent teams to examine the violation of environmental laws by the Krishnapatnam Port.  Same fate is going to happen in the case of Dugarajupatnam Major Port which is located at the boundary line of Pulicat lake Bird Sanctuary. People living nearby the Krishnapatnam Port complained to the CEC but the voiceless birds can not   complain about the air pollution.

D)      Ultimately the proposed reduction of eco fragile zone from the present distance of 10 kms to 2 kms  and the resultant establishment of Major Port will affect the livelihood of 28,000 families of fishermen of A P and 12500 families of Tamilnadu Government, because of less yield of fish due to contaminated water of the lake.

E)    The Pulicat Lake is a contiguous one between Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu Governments.  Tamilnadu Govt also declared it as Bird Sanctuary in 1980. It is not known whether the concurrence of Tamilnadu Governemnt was taken for this draft gazette notification or not.  If it is not taken, then it will tantamount to violation of laws by the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests.

F)   It appears that before issuing this Gazetted Draft Notice the MOEF did not take the concurrence from National Board for Wild Life. Ignoring the guidelines given by the CEC of Supreme Court, the MOEF is resorting to such deceptive moves, as if it all of a sudden realized the urgent need to make law  limiting the ESZ to just 2 kms only, that too in the case of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary only, leaving alone all other Sanctuaries and National Parks of Andhra Pradesh. It is learnt that discussion in NBWL is mandatory as per guidelines given by the Central Empowered Committee of Supreme Court before issuing such sinister Notification, because this Notification is compromising on the security of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, is violating the Coastal Regulatory Zone Rules, it is violating the wet land rules of the land and also because it is against the several commitments made by India to International Community to conserve Nature. The Pulicat Bird Sanctuary comes under category 1. Normal rules should not be applied to this world famous Lake in a casual manner. Special laws should be made exclusively for this water body and birds-paradise to protect it.  

G)        In this context the following  points also may kindly be noted.

G1. The eco fragile zone of the Nelapattu Wild Life sanctuary of AP existing adjacent to the Pulicat Lake Bird sanctuary is being maintained at 5 & 10 Kms width since a period of one decade.

G2. Likewise it is maintained at 5 & 10 Kms for about 15 Wild life sanctuaries in Andhra Pradesh.

G3. Laws were made declaring 5 km length area as eco sensitive zones in the case of several other wild life sanctuaries in UP, Haryana, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar etc etc., which are of less importance when compared to world famous Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary which is an IBA and a potential Ramsar site.

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G4. But now the Union Environmental Ministry is setting a very bad precedence by proposing just 2 kms distance as ESZ for a potential Ramsar site and IBA i.e Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary that too to destroy it in the coming years in a most deceptive way in the guise of protecting it but with a real intention of making the way to a world class Major Port and Ship Building Unit at its boundary line.  It will set a dangerous and disastrous precedence culminating into far reaching ill effects on Indian Nature and demoralizing effect on its protectors who are none but patriotic Forest Officers.

Conclusion: H (a) Therefore, it is requested not to yield to the pressures of vested interests of real-estate Mafia Groups of Dugarajupatnam Port   and to make law  limiting the ESZ at 10 Kms, which is being maintained as such by the present patriotic Forest and Wildlife Authorities of A P, binding themselves to the affidavit given to the Supreme Court of India in this ESZ issue. It is requested to make  special laws to save the Pulicat lake Bird Sanctuary and  its flora & fauna for the future generations and for the livelihood of 40500 families of fishermen of both A P and Tamilnadu, who are directly living on fishing in the Pulicat Lake. Prosecution of the concerned responsible Authorities and politicians is inevitable, if no birds visit the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary in future,  directly as a result of reducing the eco fragile zone to 2 kms (from the present 10 km width) which in turn paves the way for establishing  a Major Port on the boundary line of reduced ESZ. H (b) It is learnt that one IAS officer who is presently heading the Environment and Forest Department of A P Govt. caused this dangerous proposal of reducing the ESZ of Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary from a width of 10 kms to 2 kms to pave the way for establishing a Major Port in Nellore District by conspiring with one outgoing senior Minister of A P Govt, who hails from Nellore District wherein the Major Port is going to be established. As a reward, the said IAS officer is said to be   exempted from prosecution in a CBI court by the outgoing A P Govt. even though he was charge sheeted with charges which are of very serious in nature. It is also learnt that one more IAS officer who was charge sheeted in CBI court was also exempted from prosecution by the outgoing A P Govt. and he was posted to the Infrastructure & Investment and Shipping & Airports Department to complete the task of establishment of Major Port in Nellore District near Pulicat Bird Sanctuary which is also very near SDSC-SHAR Sriharikota. H (C) In fact, the Technical Committee of Union Shipping Ministry found another location named Ramayyapatnam as more suitable for world class Major Port with less estimated cost, than Dugarajupatnam of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, after making detailed study for 6 months. Hence this sinister proposal of 2 km width ESZ is also against the present day slogan “eco friendly development”.  In this connection, four annexes are enclosed, which speak volumes for themselves about the conspiracy involved in proposing to reduce the ESZ to just 2 kms width. I also demand   a thorough   enquiry through your departmental internal Vigilance Wing and also through agency of CBI and Lokpal into the conspiracy angle against the laws of the land in this murky episode.

Enclosures. (1) Clipping of Eenadu, the largest circulated Daily of AP,dated  12^th Nov 2013 and its English Translation. (2) Clipping of The Hindu, the largest circulated English Daily of South India dated 26-11-2013. (3) Copy of the letter RC No.779/07/WL-1 DATED 5.03.2007 written by the Principle Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wild Life Warden of A P Govt. (4) The letter written by the  Chief Minister of A P Govt. to the Union Minister of Shipping dated 2-9-2012.

With kind regards,                             

                   

                                                    

                                                                                     

           

                                                                                                                                               

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