CAMPAIGN TO CLEAN VEMBANAD LAKE

CAMPAIGN TO CLEAN VEMBANAD LAKE

Vembanad Kayal is the longest lake in India and the largest lake in the state of Kerala. It is also one of the largest lakes, in India. A lake spanning several districts in the state of Kerala, it is known by different names in different localities viz. Punnamada Lake in Kuttanad, Kochi Lake in Kochi.

A clam collector in the Vembanad Lake shows that nearly a third of each of his catches is plastic waste. A 41-day campaign is on to clean the lake to the maximum extent possible. Photo: Special Arrangement. Coinciding with the 41-day Mandalam season connected to Sabarimala, fishermen and clam collectors on the Vembanad Lake are engaged in a campaign to cleanse the lake of its plastic impurities.

The unfortunate phenomenon of fish, clam and other aquatic life being regularly trapped and killed in plastic waste dumped in the lake has prompted the fishermen and clam collectors, for whom the lake is their only source of livelihood, to take up the campaign. Aided by organizations including the Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE), the Vembanad Nature Club and the Vembanad Lake Protection Samithi, the campaign began on November 17 and has the fishermen and clam collectors amassing the plastic waste that gets entangled in their nets every day in one spot. The plastic thus amassed will be displayed before the authorities at the end of the campaign to stress on the enormity of the situation. “The campaign is being held alongside the 41-day Mandalam season since the 41-day penance signifies purification of the body and mind. Similarly we aim to purify the lake to whatever extent we can,” ATREE project coordinator Jojo T.D. said. 

                                                                  Prof. John Kurakar