Kanniyakumari district administration moves for Ramsar status for salt pans in Puthalam, Andivilai and Swamithoppu

The Kanniyakumari district administration is taking steps to have the salt pans at Puthalam, Andivilai and Swamithoppu declared as Ramsar site, citing their ecological importance and their role as a habitat for several migratory bird species.

The major development comes against the backdrop of a variety of migratory birds arriving at the brackish water salt pans in the three areas, particularly during winter. Due to their strategic location, the salt pans serve as an important transit point for migratory birds along the Central Asian Flyway.

In recent years, the salt pans have emerged as an important habitat for migratory birds and a popular destination for birdwatchers. Birds travelling from the northern hemisphere towards countries in the southern hemisphere, including Sri Lanka and Australia, use the wetlands as a transit and feeding ground before continuing their journey.

It is important to note that salt is being produced only in a few patches in the areas.

Vinod Sadhasivan of Kanniyakumari Nature Foundation feels that declaring salt pans in Puthalam, Andivilai and Swamithoppu as a Ramsar site would provide legal protection to the lands. “As there are a large number of abandoned salt pans in these areas, the site would become an important consideration whenever development projects are proposed to the district,” he said.

The areas have considerable potential to be developed as a bird sanctuary, which can serve as an effective habitat for the avian species, he further says.

S. Balachandran, former deputy director of Bombay Natural History Society and managing trustee of Migratory Bird Monitoring Trust, said, “These brackish water salt pans support a large number of living organisms, further serving as feeding ground for migratory birds.”

Explaining the strategic location of the salt pans, which are situated close to Manakkudy estuary, he said most of the bird species prefer shallow waters. Measures must be taken to protect the salt pans, which serve as natural habitat for the birds.

Kanniyakumari district already has two Ramsar sites: Vembanur Wetland Complex and Suchindram-Theroor-Manakkudy Wetland Complex.

Speaking to The Hindu, Collector M. Prathap said the district administration was taking steps to have Puthalam, Andivilai and Swamithoppu salt pans declared as Ramsar site. The leases for the salt pans were due to expire by October. “There are also plans to set up a bird watching-cum-research centre near the salt pans at Puthalam,” he added.