Bhubaneswar: Landing of a seaplane on Chilika lake water Saturday afternoon even after the cancellation of the proposed water aerodrome project at the lake startled residents near the lake, while the state government feigned ignorance about the incident.
Villagers in the vicinity of Chilika Lake, the continent’s largest brackish water lagoon, were panicked after hearing loud noise of the seaplane flying in the sky and surprised when it landed on the water at Chilika sea mouth.
While the locals of Arakhkuda and Sanapatna villages who witnessed the sight were terrified, fishermen at Chilika Lake were alarmed when the plane landed on the water.
According to sources, neither the local administration nor police were informed about seaplane landing and purpose behind it.
Meanwhile, Tourism Minister Ashok Chandra Panda Sunday said that the unauthorised landing of the seaplane was not acceptable and he would take up the matter with the Forest and Environment Department.
“I learnt about the issue from newspapers today. If the incident is true, then it is not acceptable at all. The landing of seaplane will affect the ecosystem of Chilika lake. I will take up the matter with the Forest and Environment department,” Panda said.
Speaking on the issue, Chilika Development Authority (CDA) additional executive officer Sasmita Lenka said it is suspected that the seaplane belongs to coast guard. A probe is underway into the matter, she added.
The incident took place around 1.30 pm. “We saw the sea plane landing in the lake with a loud noise that could be heard from a distance of about 2 km. But the plane left the lake within 15 minutes,” residents of Arakhakuda said.
Some fishermen of Sanapatana village also said they also saw the plane landing near the Nanganasi mouth of the lake.
Asked about the incident, the local police said they have no information about the incident.
As neither the police nor the district administration has any information, locals demanded a probe into the landing of sea plane without the prior permission of the state government.
While the purpose lying behind such landing in Chilika remains unclear, locals demanded a probe into the incident as the seaplane landing could bear adverse effect on the marine creatures living in the lake.
