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Vembanad Lake
Breathing life into Vembanad lake
Context: Vembanad, India’s longest lake and Kerala’s largest, is facing a serious ecological crisis. Once a thriving ecosystem, the 96.5 km-long lake, part of the Vembanad-Kol Ramsar wetland, is now shrinking and choking under the weight of pollution, encroachment, and mismanagement.
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- The lake is gasping for breath due to a century of unchecked human interference, natural sedimentation, and destructive land reclamation.
- Once an expansive water body, Vembanad has shrunk dramatically in both area and depth, severely compromising its ecological integrity and utility.
About Vembanad Lake
- India’s longest lake (96.5 km) and Kerala’s largest, spanning Alappuzha, Kottayam, and Ernakulam districts.
- Part of the Vembanad-Kol wetland system, designated a Ramsar site (internationally important wetland).
- Receives water from six major rivers and holds about 30% of Kerala’s surface water resources.
Current Environmental Crisis
- A significant reduction in the lake’s surface area — estimated at 27% between 1917 and 1990 — has resulted in a steep decline in its floodwater retention capacity.
- The lake’s ability to provide critical ecosystem services such as water purification, biodiversity conservation, and sediment transport has also been severely impaired.
- These findings are outlined in a recent expert committee report prepared as part of the ambitious Vembanad Lake Rejuvenation Project, a collaborative initiative by the Alappuzha district administration and the Local Self Government Department.
Major Threats
- Pollution and eutrophication remain among the gravest threats to the lake. A study by the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies earlier found alarming levels of plastic waste, silt, and other sedimentation.
- Meanwhile, unsustainable agricultural practices and the rapid proliferation of invasive weeds like water hyacinth have further worsened the lake’s condition.
- These weeds contribute to dangerously high levels of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD), both of which are critical indicators of water pollution.
- One of the most distressing consequences is a 66% decline in fish catch over the past three decades, affecting the livelihoods of local fishing communities.
Government Steps In: ₹188-Crore Rejuvenation Plan
- In a significant move, the Alappuzha district administration, led by Collector Alex Varghese, has launched a comprehensive lake revival programme inspired by the Namami Gange initiative.
- On October 28, 2024, a workshop brought together stakeholders to address the complex challenges facing the lake, resulting in the formation of eight subcommittees focusing on agriculture, fisheries, sanitation, tourism, and more.
- The proposed five-year ₹188.25 crore plan—now under consideration by the Kerala State government—lays out both short- and long-term strategies. These include:
- Short-term measures include:
- Removal of plastic waste
- Construction of bio-shields to protect farmlands
- Fish ranching programs
- Eradication of water hyacinth
- Construction of 31 bio bunds (each 1 km long) across 31 grama panchayats
- Long-term targets are even more ambitious and include:
- Dredging the lake bed to restore its water-holding capacity
- Encouraging organic farming to reduce pollution from pesticides and chemicals
- Conservation of flora and fauna
- Establishing sewage and faecal sludge treatment plants in flood-prone Kuttanad
- Exploring commercial uses for water hyacinth to curb its uncontrolled spread
- Enhancing tourism in a sustainable manner
- Reviving fish populations and breeding programs
- The plan also emphasises community involvement, drawing on local knowledge and support, especially critical in regions like Kuttanad, where the health of the lake is tightly linked to agricultural sustainability and flood management.
Challenges Ahead
- Despite recent cleaning efforts, including the removal of 28.72 tonnes of plastic, several challenges remain.
- Among the most pressing is the pollution caused by unregulated houseboat operations, a popular tourist attraction that discharges waste directly into the lake. The expert panel recommends stringent regulation and enforcement, though previous attempts have seen limited success.
- Another major issue is land encroachment, which continues to shrink the lake’s expanse. Reclaiming these areas will demand firm political will and decisive governance, the report notes.
The Road Forward
- Integrated approach: Link Vembanad’s restoration to the revival of the broader Kuttanad region.
- Multi-level collaboration: Involve local communities, State and Union governments, and research institutions.
- Urgency required: The lake’s health is critical to climate resilience, regional ecology, and livelihoods.
