Alleging continuing ecological degradation of Kolleru Lake, located between the Krishna and Godavari districts, Jal Biradari National Convenor Bolisetty Satyanarayana on Thursday (April 16, 2026) called for the immediate removal of fresh encroachments and strict enforcement of Supreme Court directives.
Speaking to The Hindu on the sidelines of a press meet in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Satyanarayana described Kolleru, a notified Ramsar wetland and wildlife sanctuary, as a critical ecological asset that was “being steadily diminished by illegal aquaculture and political inaction”. He said the issue transcended party lines, with encroachments recorded under successive governments over the past five decades.
Citing satellite mapping and official records, he said nearly 1.61 lakh acres of the lake’s estimated 2.22 lakh acres (up to contour 5) had been encroached, leaving only about 61,600 acres.
A map released by Jal Biradari comparing the extent of Kolleru Lake in 1975 with its condition in 2026, showing loss of wetland to aquaculture ponds over five decades. | Photo Credit: Jal Biradari, based on MoEFCC studies and APSARC satellite mapping data
Referring to the Supreme Court’s 2006 order mandating the removal of aquaculture ponds, he said “Operation Kolleru” had cleared over 43,000 acres, but the gains were reversed in subsequent years. An affidavit submitted by the Andhra Pradesh Principal Chief Conservator of Forests before the National Green Tribunal in 2023 acknowledged re-encroachments to the extent of 17,771 acres, he said, adding that “the ground reality could be higher”.
