A notification declaring the lake a sanctuary has been published in the gazette. The lake measures around 390 hectares and is located in Villianur. It is notable that the lake is the first sanctuary in Puducherry, officials said.

“First, we will take steps to restrict bird hunting and poaching in the area. We will also protect the lake from dumping of garbage and plastics. There are plans to educate people on bird conservation and we will also display signboards of the birds found in the area,” Conservator of Forests P. Devaraj said.

The department plans to undertake a study on different kinds of birds visiting the lake and the migratory pattern of birds. “Now, the Oussudu Lake will find a place in the list of national sanctuaries in the country and international tourism list too,” he said.

Birds such as grebs, little and median egrets, grey and pond herons, eels, cormorants and shovellers , white breasted water hen, common coot, common teal and darter were found at the lake throughout the year. The migratory bird population includes flamingos, open-bill stork, painted stork, ibis, spoonbill ducks, pin teal, mallard and bar headed goose.

Mr. Devaraj said that mounds would be constructed and saplings planted to increase the migratory bird population.

“Birds come for shelter and roosting. Both water and land birds visit the lake. The season for migratory birds is after November. We will also take a census of the bird population at the lake. We need to improve the vegetation here as in Vedanthangal,” he said.

With Puducherry offering a favourable environment for reproduction of the birds owing to climatic conditions, Mr. Devaraj said efforts to make the lake area garbage-free, smoke-free, with earmarked speed limits and noise regulation would be taken.

“It is possible in future to declare the area a Ramsar site for conservation and preservation of the wetland,” he added.