Question : BIRD POPULATION IN NALABANA BIRD SANCTUARY



(a) the impact on the bird population of Nalabana Bird Sanctuary in Chilika Lake in Orissa due to opening of a new mouth at Arakhakhuda;

(b) when was this mouth opened; and

(c) the details of bird census figures for this sanctuary since then?

Answer given by the minister

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND FORESTS (SHRI NAMO NARAIN MEENA)

(a) & (b) The new mouth of the Chilika lagoon was opened at Ramabhartia on 23.9.2000. As informed by the State Government, no detailed scientific study has been done on the impact of opening of new mouth on Nalabana Bird Sanctuary.

(c) The census figures of birds in the Nalabana Sanctuary are as follows -

Year of Census	Number of Birds (in lakhs)
2000-01 5.56 2001-02 2.33 2002-03 2.03 2003-04 1.81