Chilika Lake is a brackish lagoon with a narrow opening to the Bay of Bengal on the shores of eastern India. Two islands in the lake, Berhampur and Mahinsha, are home to 3,400 people; over 150,000 people depend on fishing in the lake for their livelihoods, which accounts for about 70% of the local population. Although the lake is technically protected, overfishing is a serious problem, including with illegal driftnets.
Chilika Lake is over 400 square miles, and was India’s first RAMSAR Wetland of International Significance. It’s the largest wintering ground for migratory waterfowl on the Indian subcontinent, and is also home to staggering array of marine and terrestrial life, including endangered Irrawaddy dolphins, khainga (milk fish), limbless skinks, fishing cats, and green sea turtles. Unfortunately, the illegal driftnets catch not only fish; they also kill endangered dolphins and sea turtles.
Seacology has been supporting projects in Chilika Lake since 2006, when we funded 170 toilets and 40,000 mangrove seedlings for the unelectrified island of Mainsh.
In 2015, Seacology funded a community center for the fishing community on Berhampur Island, which was managed by a local women’s group. The community agreed to protect 20 acres of the lagoon for 10 years, in addition to starting programs on environmental education, alternative livelihood training, and planting 10,000 trees, including mangroves.
In 2018, Seacology worked with about 100 women from the Berhampur and Mahinsha communities on a second project. Residents are protecting an additional 20 acres of the lagoon from illegal fishing, planted another 2,000 mangrove seedlings, and expanded their environmental education program to include boatmen, fishermen, teachers, and schoolchildren.
Additionally, the grant funded construction of an interpretive center with a lotus pond; an organic garden; upgrades to houses so families can host tourists; cottages, tents, and biotoilets for tourists; and a small restaurant and craft store run by local women.
Unfortunately, Cyclone Fani hit the area in May 2019, and 4 partially built guest cottages were destroyed; luckily no one was hurt. Seacology made an additional emergency grant to repair the cottages, and the project was able to get back on track. The community center we funded in 2015 served as a shelter during the cyclone.
So far, 1,000 mangrove saplings have been planted, the guest cottages and amenities have been built, the organic garden was planted, the women have purchased a solar-powered boat, and environmental education programs have taught local school children about the importance of conserving biodiversity and trained adults on the need to stop harming Irrawaddy dolphins. Over 300 fishers and boatmen are protecting the lake leaving small Khainga fish in the lake to increase their population, and protecting the Irrawaddy dolphins from harm.
WATER SANITATION HYGIENE PROGRAMMES
So far we have constructed more than 5000 individual toilets and 300 school toilets declaring 50 villages as Open Defecation Free villages/ schools. Kindly view one of our Bio-toilet project on YouTube- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xd5oiLXMBCg – to know about our work.
We have also reached/educated 5000 adolescent girls in 300 schools on Menstrual Hygiene Management Education – through our Happy Days Campaign. Kindly view one of our videos on MHM for your reference- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rEsLeb83erY.
We also produce low cost and bio-degradable Sanitary Napkins involving 100 village women social entrepreneurs and serve more than 50000 women per month through our women social entrepreneurship programme. View this YouTube video-Bio degradable low cost Sanitary Napkin Production by Women SHGs.
Further, we have installed more than 100 India mark Water Hand pumps in rural area to provide safe drinking water among 50 villages/ 50000 rural populations besides our work on rain water harvesting.We have rich experiences in working on WASH issues through our committed and dedicated WASH Team of staff and volunteers.
Green city Programme
CHILIKA ECO-RESORT
Surrounded by tropical land in the middle of Chilika lake, our serene eco-resort offers the best of nature and scrumptious seafood. While you escape from the city’s noise and chaos, you can spot some Irrawaddy dolphins & migratory birds, enjoy camping, bonfires under a starry sky, live music, dart boarding, fishing, volleyball games, and barbecue at the resort. Also, you can take a boat ride for around 2kms which will lead you to find an exotic, secluded sea beach at Rajhans island or even hear up to the astounding sea mouth. Our Eco resort Chilika Madhuvan is a destination where you can experience nature at its best. Fully solar-powered and eco-friendly huts along with exotic seafood and exciting activities such as dolphin sightings would add to the wonderful experience.
It is located in the island village of Behrampur in the middle of the Chilika lake, Satpada. It is an initiative by our NGO Jeevan Rekha Parishad.
For reservations, please contact: 7008399416 , 9818623640
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