Conservationists are outraged by the Odisha government’s intention to build the nation’s longest ropeway in Chilika Lake as part of the Center’s “Parvatmala” program. They worry that the project will be bad for migrating birds, one of the most important components of wetlands.

The idea itself, which is intended for steep terrains under the “Parvatmala” scheme, has conservationists in a rage. The others are situated in hilly areas. Environmentalists assert that the ropeway project will harm the ecosystem in Asia’s largest brackish water lagoon, which attracts over a million migrating birds from around the world every winter, in addition to destabilizing the biodiversity.

A brief about Odisha to Construct India’s Longest 5.3 km long ropeway above Chilika Lake:

“The Chilika Lake ropeway plan is begging for tragedy. The ecosystem there will be severely damaged as a result of the construction of the ropeway’s structures. These construction and tourism-related projects would uproot indigenous wildlife and displace marine life. The presence of it in Chilika is risky, according to renowned water conservationist Rajendra Singh.

Chilika is not only one of the largest wetlands, but it is also a Ramsar site, therefore any conversion to a non-wetland use is prohibited under the Wetland Conservation and Management Rule, 2017, which is applicable to it. According to the regulation, wetlands must be managed and conserved in conformity with the ‘intelligent use’ principle as established by the Wetlands Authority.

Additionally, the two specified ropeway routes that the Works department has designed will cross migratory bird flight pathways, which will drive the birds away. According to Singh, the government may create environmentally friendly, natural routes to draw tourists. Dr. Jaya Krushna Panigrahi, secretary of the Odisha Environmental Society, concurred and stated that such meddling cannot be accepted. He warned that increased tourism would disrupt the movement of migratory birds and Irrawaddy dolphins in addition to the marine environment.

National Highways Logistic Management Limited (NHLML), a division of NHAI, will take on the ropeway projects. The superintending engineer of the R&B Divisions has been directed by Chief Engineer (DPI & Roads) Tara Prasad Mishra to identify areas where ropeway projects can be undertaken using the tentative list.

Malaygiri Mountain in Angul District, Satkosia in Nayagarh, Dudhari to Gumandi in Koraput, Bhimkund and Devkund in Mayurbhanj, Gonasika in Keonjhar, and Putudi Waterfall in Kandhamal are the other eight proposed ropeway projects.

A water aerodrome that the Center had proposed in 2018 was dropped after the State government objected to it. Sanjay Dasburma, a former Brahmagiri MLA, and the then-Revenue Minister Maheswar Mohanty opposed the proposal on the grounds that it would negatively impact the lake’s ecosystem and two lakh fishing families.

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