According to Chilika Development Authority (CDA) extra precautionary measures are being taken in the lake limits this year to save the thousands of migratory birds from far off places that perch in this lagoon during the winter.

With the help of police a list of licensed arms holders living near Chilika coast has been prepared. Using intelligence reports a list of illegal possessors of country guns in the area has also been prepared. The arms possessors have been warned to refrain from poaching of birds or face severe action.

CDA drive

The CDA has also initiated a drive to educate villagers living on the coast of the lake to refrain from killing and panicking the migratory birds. The Forest Department has also come up with 16 special camps on the Chilika coast line to protect the migratory birds.

Each camp would have one forester, one forest guard and three volunteers on duty. Vigil is slight tight in areas near Sorana, Nairi, Kalupada, Mangalajodi, Krushnaprasad, Madhurchua, Satapada, Gurubai, Khatiakudi villages on the Chilika coast which are the main perching grounds of the migratory birds.

Fifteen motor boats are to be used to patrol the Chilika coast to thwart attempts of poachers.

Special mobile squads comprising forest as well as police officials would keep watch on the restaurants and eateries near the lake during the winter. It may be noted that some connoisseurs of food come over and get meat of these migratory birds cooked at these eateries.

As per the CDA the amount of poaching of migratory birds has gone down in recent years due to strict vigil. Last winter 13 poachers were arrested and 48 live or dead migratory birds were recovered from them. The arrival of migratory birds is slight slow in the Chilika lake this year due to delay in the arrival of winter. Usually they start arriving from the first week of October. But this year their arrival was almost two weeks late.