Vembanad Lake shrinking fast; 90 lakh people exposed to flood risk, diseases

THRISSUR: Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies (KUFOS) study feared that the shrinking of India's second largest wetland, the Vembanad Lake, will adversely affect 90 lakh people in Ernakulam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts. The water storage capacity has decreased by 85.3 per cent from 33 years ago. The area has been reduced to 43.5 per cent. In 37.74 per cent of the lake, the total depth is less than two meters. The sediments in high concentration in the lakes are the main reason for the lake losing depth.

Due to reduced water storage capacity, water logging and lightning floods are giving nightmares to residents nearby. Diseases are also spreading across the premises due to the dumping of toilet waste. With the fish stock also dwindling, there is a predicament for the fishermen community. Weeds have been extending their reach across the waters making it nearly impossible to drive houseboats through these waters. The shrinking of Vembanad has terribly affected Kuttanad, which is placed 19.59 per cent below sea level. The plastic pollution in Kuttanad is the worst compared with estuaries across the world. 3,005 tonnes of microplastics are present in the top one meter of the sediment layer.

The study was conducted by a twenty-member team led by Professor Dr. V. N. Saneeivan of the University's Center for Aquatic Research Management and Conservation.

Solution to overcome this problem

• The salt should be removed
• Increase storage capacity by increasing depth
• Install wide sluice gate
• Increase the capacity of Kuttanad Dam
• Clean canals and ditches