The Sasthamcotta lake in Kollam district, the largest
freshwater lake in the State, will soon have a green ring along its
periphery as part of conservation measures for the Ramsar wetland.
The
Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSBB) has taken up a project to create
a bio-fence around the shrinking lake that dries up partially during
the summer, threatening to cut off water supply to Kollam city and the
neighbouring panchayats.
The board had procured 2,000
seedlings of bamboo and other trees to be planted along the 24-km
boundary of the waterbody. Fruit trees that attract birds have also been
selected to enhance biodiversity. “We are working on a participatory
programme to protect and maintain the seedlings,” K.P. Laladhas, Member
Secretary, KSBB, said. Board Chairman Oommen V. Oommen said a joint
biodiversity management committee had been set up for the lake. The
committee had representatives from the Sasthamkotta, East Kallada, and
Mainagapally panchayats.
KSBB had chalked out a
programme to protect the fish wealth of the lake and create a lake
biodiversity register. It was coordinating with the panchayats to cut
down the acacia trees in the neighbourhood of the lake. The trees had
been identified as one of the reasons for the depletion of water during
summer months.
The board had also submitted a
representation to Chief Minister Oommen Chandy seeking his intervention
to expedite the proposals to rejuvenate the lake. Under a package
approved at a meeting convened by Mr. Chandy in June 2013, it was
decided to mitigate the pressure on the lake by tapping the Kallada and
Pallickal rivers as alternative water sources for Kollam city and the
Chavara-Panmana areas.
The meeting had also resolved to check the sewage inflow into the lake.
But
the proposals had failed to materialise, triggering concerns among the
local people who feared that any further delay would be disastrous for
the lake.
Prof. Oommen said the Chief Minister was expected to convene a review meeting soon.
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