CHENNAI: Pulicat lake, one of the ecologically sensitive wetlands in the state that provides sustenance to migratory birds and livelihood to fishermen, should wait for another year to get its boundaries designated as the central government has given more time to the Tamil Nadu government to complete the rationalisation of the boundary.

During a recent standing committee of National Board for Wild Life (NBWL), the committee directed the State government to ensure the draft ESZ (eco-sensitive zone) notification was resubmitted with all essential details within two months, and to complete rationalisation of the boundary of the Pulicat Lake Sanctuary by April 2027.

The deadline was given while discussing issuance of wildlife clearance to two industrial projects proposed at 8.5 km and 7.87 km away from the sanctuary. Even though the Committee gave its nod to both the projects with certain conditions noting that the projects fell outside the proposed draft eco-sensitive zone, it clarified that any further proposals relating to the Pulicat lake would be possible only after notification and rationalisation processes were completed.

Earlier, the State government conducted a study of the Pulicat lake by appointing National Center for Sustainable Coastal Management (NCSCM). A draft notification for the declaration of an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) and report on rationalisation of boundaries around the sanctuary were submitted to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. However, the Ministry has sought certain details from the State government.

As per the NCSCM draft notification and reports, the zone of influence (eco-sensitive zone) around the Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary boundary exhibits spatial variability ranging from 0 km to approximately 5.1 km from the sanctuary boundary. The maximum extent of the zone of influence (around 5.1 km) is predominantly towards the south-western side of the sanctuary.

In 1980, the State government issued a notification to declare about 300 hectares of Pulicat lake and surrounding 13 villages Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary but the boundaries were not declared. Meanwhile, the State government commenced the process to re-notify the sanctuary and declare boundaries, and initiated the process of settlement of claims for local communities residing in the 13 villages within the aanctuary limits in February 2024.

However, residents and environmentalists were anxious that the government would reduce the buffer zone of the Pulicat lake, and hence demanded protection of the entire region as the Pulicat lake covers around 5,000 hectares in Tamil Nadu. “Pulicat Bird Sanctuary covers the area between Pazhaverkadu village to Medhipalayam village in the north. But, the lake area south of Pazhaverkadu village is not protected under bird sanctuary even though the Pulicat lake extends upto Kattupalli,” a resident said.