Hyderabad, April 28 -- Kolleru lake, a wildlife sanctuary and wetland ecosystem located between Krishna and Godavari delta regions, is likely to be shrunk by 20,000 acres under the pressure of the people and aquaculture farmers who had been occupying the land for over several years, people familiar with the development said.

On April 18, principal secretary (forest department) Kantilal Dande wrote to the Central Empowered Committee (CEC) of the Union ministry of environment and forests requesting permission for rationalisation of the boundaries of Kolleru wildlife sanctuary by nearly 20,000 acres.

Dande pointed out that the 48th meeting of the standing committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) held on March 27, 2018 also re...