Kerala - Thiruvananthapuram   

`Demarcate boundaries of Vellayani lake'

Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The speakers at an open forum on `Whither Vellayani lake' organised by the Centre for Environment and Development as part of the Kerala Environment Congress in the city on Thursday emphasised the need to demarcate the boundaries of Vellayani lake for its effective conservation.

E.J. James, executive director, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kozhikode, who inaugurated the session said demarcation was essential as it brought about a stamp of authority. Demarcation of the lake was not a difficult task as the area was less, he said.

Though debates and discussion on how to conserve the lake had been on for more than two decades, a solution was yet to be found, Mr. James said.

Conservation

He suggested conservation measures such as banning sand-mining in the locality, redesigning bunds and roads and providing appropriate causeways, bridges and culverts, continuous monitoring of water supply schemes and constitution of a management committee with the representation of local people and stakeholders.

The former president of Venganoor panchayat Rufus Daniel called for identifying priority areas to preserve the lake. "Acute shortage of drinking water is the biggest problem faced by the people residing near Vellayani today. Before exploring the possibility of promoting the area as a potential eco-tourism destination, we should address this first," he said.

Ramsar site

There were also suggestions to declare the lake as a Ramsar site. The convention on wetlands signed in Ramsar in 1971 is an inter-governmental treaty which provides the framework for national action and international cooperation for the conservation and wise use of wetlands and their resources. There are 25 Ramsar sites in India. The existing Ramsar sites in the State are Sasthamcottah lake, Vembanad kole wetland and Ashtamudi wetland.

Panel to be set up

It was also decided to constitute a committee headed by Mr. James to implement an action plan for Vellayani. Without a managing committee to monitor the activities at Vellayani, declaring the area as a Ramsar site would be of no use, the speakers said.

The three-day workshop based on the theme `Wetland resources of Kerala' was attended by scientists, social activists and the representatives of local self-government institutions and non-governmental organisations.

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