Vembanad Lake, Location, Importance and Threats

Context: Climate change and pollution from slaughterhouses and shrimp peeling sheds are choking the ecosystem of the Vembanad Lake.

About Vembanad Lake

• It is located in Kerala bounded by the districts of Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam.
• It is the 2nd largest wetland in India and was declared a Ramsar site in 2002. (1st – Sunderbans)
• A Ramsar Site is a wetland that has been declared an ecological area of international importance under the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, also known as the ‘Convention of Wetlands’.

• The lake has its source in 4 rivers:
  • Meenachil,
  • Achankovil,
  • Pampa and
  • Manimala
• Vembanad is the longest lake in India (96.5 km) & largest lake of Kerala.
• The famous Nehru Trophy Boat Race is held in Vembanad Lake.
• Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary is located on the east coast of the lake.
• Kuttanad, the rice bowl of Kerala, is located in the southern portion of the lake.
• Local names of the lake: Vembanad Kayal, Vembanad Kol, Punnamada Lake etc.

Threats to the Lake

• Pollution: The lake is affected by microplastic pollution from sewage canals, rivers and run-off. It also receives nutrient discharge from urban settlements and pesticide residue from rice polders.
• Land Reclamation: The lake has lost 37% of its original area due to land reclamation.
• Coconut husk retting: Coconut husk retting deteriorates the water quality.
• Tourism: Resorts and residences discharge their waste into the river, and many houseboats do not have bio-toilets.

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