Vembanad Lake Revival Plan: Threats and Targets
Why in the news
Vembanad Lake in Kerala is stressed by encroachment, pollution and invasive weed, and a district-led rejuvenation plan was prepared.
Key facts
- Fed by six major rivers; supports farming, fishing and biodiversity in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam.
- Part of the Vembanad-Kol wetland, a Ramsar site.
- Plan outlay Rs 188.25 crore over five years, submitted to CM Pinarayi Vijayan.
- About 28.72 tonnes of plastic already removed.
| Threat | Details |
|---|---|
| Shrinking lake | Encroachment, reclamation, silt; weaker flood storage and purification |
| Pollution | Plastic, chemicals; water hyacinth raises BOD and COD |
| Houseboats | Key polluters; illegal boats largely unchecked |
The rejuvenation project
- Led by Collector Alex Varghese, with eight subcommittees (farming, fisheries, sanitation, biodiversity, climate change and more).
- Short term: clear plastic and hyacinth; 31 bio-bunds of 1 km each; fish ranching; bio-shields for farmland.
- Long term: dredging, organic farming, sewage and faecal sludge plants in Kuttanad, products from hyacinth, sustainable tourism and fisheries.
Concerns
- Political will to reclaim encroached land and curb illegal houseboats.
- Must be linked with wider Kuttanad revival and inter-governmental cooperation.
Exam angle
- Longest lake in India: Vembanad; model for the plan: Namami Gange.
- Terms: bio-bunds, eutrophication, BOD, COD.