Kolleru Lake Faces Renewed Encroachment Concerns

Jal Biradari national convenor Bolisetty Satyanarayana has raised serious concern over the continuing encroachments and ecological decline of Kolleru Lake, saying the situation remains unchanged despite a change in government.

Speaking at a media conference on Thursday, he said the lake continues to face steady environmental stress and that no effective steps have been taken to stop fresh encroachments. He warned that the ongoing neglect is further weakening the fragile ecosystem of one of the region’s most important water bodies.

He called for immediate and strict action to remove all encroachments and restore the lake’s ecological balance. Conservation efforts, he said, must be taken up on a war footing, given the long years of damage and slow response from authorities.

Highlighting the scale of loss, Satyanarayana said Kolleru Lake, which once spread across nearly 2,22,600 acres, has now shrunk to about 90,000 acres over the last five decades due to continuous encroachments and environmental degradation.

He also pointed to 11 “red spots” identified on recent maps, which indicate fresh encroachments between 2024 and 2026. He described this as a worrying sign that encroachment activity is still continuing and needs immediate attention from the concerned departments.

He urged authorities to act without delay, remove illegal occupations, and strengthen long-term protection measures to ensure the lake is preserved for future generations.