Palluyir Trust identifies over 50 birds at Sathangadu lake, raises concern over proposed waste-to-energy plant
Palluyir Trust, a Chennai-based organization for nature education and research, has urged the Greater Chennai Corporation to explore alternative solutions to the proposed Kodungaiyur waste-to-energy plant, citing concerns about protecting and managing the nearby Sathangadu lake. This was mentioned in a report following a recent bird survey at the Sathangadu lake, where over 50 species of birds were identified. The Trust said that the area was 'unsuitable' for an incinerator plant.
During the one-day survey done by a team of naturalists on March 28, it was found that many threatened species such as Grey Pelicans were identified at Sathangadu lake, which is around 5 km from the Kodungaiyur dump yard, the report stated.
It noted that many of the migratory birds including Wood Sandpipers, Grey-headed Lapwings, Whiskered Terns, and Brown-headed Gulls were protected under protected under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS), also known as the Bonn Convention.
Many species were observed to be moving between this site and the Pulicat Bird Sanctuary, the report added. 'Large numbers of water birds in a wetland indicate a well-developed benthic substrate [bottom surface of a water body that supports aquatic life such as insects, worms, and micro organisms], and a good diversity of fish, crustaceans, and other aquatic creatures that birds feed on and also indicate the health of the wetland,' it mentioned.
The site functions as a flood catchment area and a critical water source for the surrounding population, according to the report.
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