Chilika has a pride of place in Orissa’s literature and culture, and has influenced the poets and philosophers. It has held great significance for planners, scientists, international organizations like ‘The Wetlands International’ and ‘Asian Wetland Bureau’. Chilika lagoon has been designated as a Ramsar site (Wetland of International importance) from the 1st October, l981.
Chilika, the largest brackish water wetland (1000 sq. km aprox.) in the country is situated in the east coast of the state in the district of Puri, Ganjam and Khurda. A vast and picturesque lagoon/lake is famous for rich bio-diversity including the migratory birds and has been acknowledged as a “Ramsar site”.
Chilika is the largest inland brackish water body of its kind in Asia forming an enomorous lagoon situated on the east coast of peninsular India between 19° 28′ N to 19°54′ N latitude and 85° 6′ E to 85° 35′ E longitude in the districts of Puri, Ganjam and Khurda in the state of Orissa
The vast and dream like Chilika Lagoon is situated on the east-coast of India. It is the largest brackish Water Lagoon with estuarine character that sprawls along the east coast. It is the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl found anywhere on the Indian sub-continent. It is one of the hotspot of biodiversity in the country, and some rare, vulnerable and endangered species listed in the IUCN Red List of threatened Animals inhabit in the lagoon for atleast part of their life cycle. The total number of fish species are reported to be 225 (Dean and Saaltink, 1991). Along with a variety of phytoplankton, algae and aquatic plants, the Lake region also supports over 350 species of non-aquatic plants (Panda and Pattnaik, 1988). By a recent phytodiversiy survey by CDA ( 2002) 710 number of plants identified from Chilika( within the waterbody, including the Islands and shoreline plants) . A survey of the fauna of Chilika carried out by the Zoological Survey of India in 1985-87 recorded over 800 species in and around the lagoon. This list includes a number of rare, threatened and endangered species, including the Barakudia limbless skink. On account of its rich bio-diversity, Chilika was designated as a “Ramsar Site”, i.e. a wetland of International Importance. The Nalaban Island within the lagoon is notified as a Bird Sanctuary under Wildlife (Protection) Act, the National Wetlands, mangroves and coral reefs Committee of Ministry of Environment & Forests, Government of India, have also identified the lagoon as a priority site for conservation and management. The Lagoon is a highly productive ecosystem, with rich fishery resources. The rich fishing ground sustain the livelihood of more than 0.15 million fisherfolk who live in and around the Lagoon.
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