Description

The Alappuzha District Administration has initiated an ambitious lake restoration project for Vembanad Lake, Kerala’s most significant water body. A comprehensive five-year plan, valued at Rupees 188.25 crore, has been submitted to the Chief Minister of Kerala for approval. The project is inspired by the Namami Gange Programme, India's national mission to clean and rejuvenate the Ganga River.

The detailed proposal is currently under review and may undergo revisions based on ongoing technical and environmental assessments being conducted by the Centre for Water Resources Development and Management (CWRDM). The aim is to restore the ecological balance and revive the lake’s biodiversity and water quality through coordinated efforts.

To ensure a holistic approach, eight sector-specific subcommittees have been formed. These include panels focusing on:

• Agriculture

• Fisheries

• Water resources

• Sanitation

• Biodiversity

• Disaster management

• Environment and wetlands

• Public awareness and community engagement

These bodies will work collaboratively to plan and execute targeted interventions aimed at reversing the environmental degradation that the lake has suffered over the years.

Alarming Decline In Lake Size And Health

Over the past century, Vembanad Lake has undergone severe ecological degradation. Between 1917 and 1990, the lake experienced a 27% reduction in surface area, driven primarily by:

• Unregulated land reclamation

• Sedimentation from inflowing rivers

• Illegal encroachments

• Untreated sewage and solid waste dumping

This degradation has resulted in shrinking water capacity, disappearing aquatic biodiversity, increased flooding in adjacent areas, and deterioration in water quality, affecting both human and ecological health.

In recent years, the government and civic bodies have intensified efforts to counter the damage. As part of these activities, 72 tonnes of plastic waste and substantial volumes of invasive water hyacinth have been removed from the lake’s surface, indicating a renewed commitment to restoration.

About Vembanad Lake

Vembanad Lake is the longest lake in India and the largest in Kerala, stretching approximately 5 kilometers in length and spanning an area of 2,033 square kilometers. It passes through the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam, and plays a central role in the region's ecology, economy, and culture.

The lake is referred to by various local names:

• Vembanad Kayal in general

• Punnamada Lake in the Kuttanad region

• Kochi Lake in Kochi city

• Vembanad Kol in the northern stretches

Ecological And Cultural Significance

Vembanad is fed by six major rivers:

• Pamba

• Meenachil

• Manimala

• Achankovil

• And others

It drains into the Arabian Sea, acting as a critical estuarine ecosystem. The lake includes important islands such as:

• Pathiramanal

• Perumbalam

• Pallippuram

These islands are key to the region’s biodiversity and backwater tourism.

On its eastern banks lies the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary, home to numerous migratory and native bird species, enhancing the lake’s biodiversity and eco-tourism potential.

The lake is also known for hosting the Nehru Trophy Snake Boat Race, one of India’s most famous water sports events, held annually in August in the Punnamada segment of the lake.

Recognizing its ecological value, the Vembanad-Kol Wetland was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2002, highlighting its global environmental importance as a wetland of international concern.

A Step Toward Sustainable Restoration

The rejuvenation project aims not just to clean the lake but to build a sustainable model for lake management that balances ecology, livelihoods, and tourism. Through community participation, scientific planning, and administrative commitment, Vembanad’s restoration could become a blueprint for other threatened ecosystems across India.

If implemented successfully, this effort could not only restore Vembanad’s past glory but also ensure water security, flood control, biodiversity conservation, and sustainable development for generations to come.

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