State to spend Rs 22cr for Chilika infra dev

Bhubaneswar:  The government of Odisha will spend Rs 22 crore for the infrastructural development of blue lagoon Chilika, of which Rs 10 crore will be earmarked for the livelihood upliftment of the locals. This was decided at the 11th governing body meeting of Chilika Development Authority (CDA) held today.

The meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik also decided to engage eight new excavators including the existing two this year to demolish the illegal prawn enclosures (gheris).  The government said a new bill was being prepared to keep a tab on the spreading gheris which pose an environmental threat to the brackish water lake.

The governing body council has approved formation of five team of scientists to study about the foreign visiting birds and flora and fauna of the lagoon. It may be noted that the 13th finance commission will release the funds.