Browsing by Author "Ray, Paromita"

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Assessment of Ecological settings and biodiversity values of Papikonda National Park and Indira Sagar (Polavaram) Multipurpose project Impact zone in Andhra Pradesh for development of migratory measures
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2014) Sivakumar, K.; Johnson, J.A,.; Gokulakkannan, N.; Ray, Paromita; Katlam, Gitanjali; Bagaria, Priyamvada
The Indira Sagar (Polavaram Project) Multipurpose Project envisages the construction of a zoned earth-cum-rock fill dam with an impervious core across the Godavari River in Polavaram. This project also includes the construction of two canals, viz. the Right Main Canal, extending over a distance of 174 km, and the Left Canal, extending over a distance of 181.5 km. The Right Canal will connect the water-surplus Godavari River with the water-deficient Krishna River in Vijayawada and supply 80 tmcft (226 MCM) of water to Budameru in Vijayawada. The Left Canal is designed to provide water to 12 lakh acres in the northern coastal districts besides meeting the drinking water needs of the urban and rural areas around these. It will connect with the Yeleru canal to bring water for industries (Vizag steel plant) and a drinking water supply. It will also supply the northern coastal districts of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam with irrigation water. Apart from boosting irrigation in the region, this project will also provide drinking water to 28 lakh people in 540 villages along the canals and generate around 960 MW of hydro-electricity. Despite these benefits, the project has come under scrutiny from various quarters, especially its adverse impacts on various ecosystems that are closely linked with the Godavari River. Further, an area of 3267 ha of land in Bhadrachalam (S), Bhadrachalam (N), Paloncha, Krishna, Eluru, Kakinada and Visakhapatnam forest divisions also needs to be diverted for submergence, construction of a power house, digging of canals, etc. In this context, as per the direction of the Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, vide their letter no. 8-123/2005-FC dated 26/29th December 2008, Point No. 7(ii), the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) initiated a short term (18-month) study to assess the impact of the project on the wild flora and fauna and the habitat and subsequently suggest mitigatory measures for the same. The status and distribution of certain taxa such as mammals, birds, herpertofauna and fishes were assessed using various census techniques. These included the use of line transects and camera traps and sign surveys for mammals, point counts for birds, quadrat methods for herpetofauna, CPUE (Catch Per Unit Effort) and market surveys for fishes and circular plots for vegetation assessment. Further, GIS and remote sensing tools were used to assess the land cover and land use pattern and potential impact of the project at the landscape level.
Establishment of knowledge management system for East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE) Andhra Pradesh
(Wildlife Institute of India, Dehradun, 2017) Sivakumar, K. ; Johnson, J.A.; Gopi, G.V.; Lal, Panna; Rajashekhar, P.V.; Bhadury, P.; Kumar, Ritesh; Rao, Tulsi K.; Kathula, Tarun; Malla, Giridhar; Ray, Paromita; Bagaria, Priyamvada; Anand, Dipak; Prasad, Leela
Global warming has already affected the marine and coastal ecosystems at greater extent. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, sea levels in India are expected to rise at the rate of 2.4 mm a year; in 2050, the total increase will be 38 cm. 2. East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem (EGREE) encompassing the Godavari mangroves is the second largest area of mangroves along the east coast of India. The area is rich in floral and faunal diversity, and generates significant ecological and economic benefits such as shoreline protection, sustaining livelihoods and carbon sink services. 3. It is situated at the confluence of Godavari River with Bay of Bengal in the East Godavari district of Andhra Pradesh. The geographical scope of this study lies between 16°59'23" N, 82°18'16" E and 16°34'57" N, 82°18'38" E. 4. EGREE encompasses the vast delta of Godavari River along with other coastal habitats such as mangroves, river channel, floodplains, natural levees, bay, mudflats, tidal creeks, sand spits, beaches etc. 5. Presence of a 17 km-long spit, called Hope Island provides natural shelter to the coast and city of Kakinada. It has allowed the establishment of a major fishing harbor and the Kakinada Port, thereby accruing high economic values to the region. 6. In recognition of its national and global biodiversity significance, the northern part is also protected as Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary (CWLS), which encompasses around 235.70 sq.km of mangrove forests. 7. The main production sectors currently operating in EGREE are fisheries, aquaculture, salt pans, tourism and manufacturing activities such as, oil and gas exploration, fertilizers, edible oil, rice products. Kakinada, a city located in EGREE is also one of the important ports of Andhra Pradesh and is being developed further into a ‘Smart City’. 8. These activities are impacting the overall ecological integrity of EGREE particularly the mangrove ecosystems, with associated impacts on the livelihoods of local communities. 9. The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change and the Government of Andhra Pradesh with support from UNDP and GEF initiated the project 'Mainstreaming Coastal and Marine Biodiversity into Production Sectors in the East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem, Andhra Pradesh'. 10. In order to advice and monitor the implementation of this GOI-UNDP-GEF Project in EGREE, a National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) was constituted under the chairmanship of Additional Director General of Forests (Wildlife), Ministry of Environment and Forests (now Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change). The 1st meeting of the National Project Steering Committee (NPSC) of the project was held on 28th June 2011 in the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change, New Delhi. In the meeting, it was decided that Wildlife Institute of India (WII) would establish a Knowledge Management System envisioned under the project and co-ordinate all activities related therein. 11. Main goal of the project was to establish a Knowledge Management System (KMS) for East Godavari River Estuarine Ecosystem in Andhra Pradesh. It had four objectives viz. identifying research gaps, study the impacts of climate change, identify and assess the ecosystem services, and conducting a national workshop on mainstreaming biodiversity conservation into production sectors in EGREE.