Context

The Tamil Nadu government is considering denotifying a significant portion of the Pulicat bird sanctuary. 

Pulicat Bird Sanctuary Under Threat: Potential Denotification and Patta Land Exclusion

• Patta Land Exclusion: Patta land in 13 revenue villages situated within the sanctuary’s boundaries may be excluded from the sanctuary. 
• Issuance of Notice: The Tiruvallur district collector issued a draft notice Just before the Lok Sabha elections and the enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct.
  • The notice was about settling claims for patta lands that were going to be removed from the sanctuary.

Pulicat Bird Sanctuary

• This Sanctuary is India’s second-largest bird sanctuary.
• Migratory birds in winter: The Pulicat Lake Bird Sanctuary welcomes a significant number of migratory birds like gulls, terns, and flamingos  each winter.
• The sanctuary is home to various birds like pelicans, storks, and ducks throughout the year.
• Location: The sanctuary spans across the Nellore district of Andhra Pradesh and the Thiruvallur district of Tamil Nadu.
  • However, the majority of the sanctuary falls within the borders of Andhra Pradesh.

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Legal Status of Pulicat Bird Sanctuary:

• Establishment: In 1980, the state government included the bird sanctuary under Section 18 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, but it wasn’t a final decision.
• However, the sanctuary’s legal status is currently in flux due to the following points:
• Current Status:
  • Final Notification Pending: The sanctuary does not have a final notification under Section 26(A) of the Act. 
    • According to the Act, a final notification under Section 26(A) must be issued, but this can only happen after the collector settles the claims of affected individuals, which is currently underway.
  • Boundary Clarity: The boundaries of the sanctuary have remained undefined until now.
  • Private Land Status: Private patta lands cannot be designated as part of the sanctuary.
    • Government Action: It requires the government to either acquire these lands or exempt them from sanctuary status.
  • Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ): The final notification with a defined boundary will determine the size of the ESZ surrounding the sanctuary. 
    • The current 10 km default ESZ might be recalculated based on the final sanctuary area.

Key Concerns of Reducing Pulicat Bird Sanctuary Areas:

• Adani-Kattupalli port expansion: The northern boundary of the port expansion project would fall outside the eco-sensitive zone (ESZ) once the Pulicat bird sanctuary area is reduced. 
  • This might exempt the project from requiring clearance from the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL).
    • It will allow Kattupalli port expansion to damage the lagoon’s sandbar and change entire hydrology of Pulicat
• Environmentalists’ Arguments:
  • Habitat of migratory birds: The sanctuary provides crucial habitat for migratory and water birds.
  • Weak environment Protection: Reducing the sanctuary size could weaken environmental protections for the area. Therefore, 
    • The entire Pulicat ecosystem, including the Ennore Creek, backwaters, and Kosasthalaiyar River, needs protection.
    • Ecological Integrity: They argue that Redefining sanctuary boundaries shouldn’t compromise the ecological integrity of the wider habitat.