Standing Committee on Science for Vembanad Lake

“The Committee expresses its serious concern over the pathetic condition of the lake and the over-increasing eutrophication and pollution in the backwaters caused mainly due to reckless reclamation, completely obstructing inflow of sea water into it and also due to discharge of untreated sewerage into it”, the report said.

The Committee has recommended the Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change “should devise an action plan to be implemented within a definite time-frame in coordination with the state administration and Pollution Control Board to restore the health of the backwaters urgently”.

The committee has suggested six urgent measures to be taken for the restoration of the health of the backwaters.

The steps suggested included “Mapping the residential structures along the lake by using technology like satellite imagery and placing the same in public domain, within six months. Prevention of further encroachments and reclamations by enforcing Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) rules strictly.

Establishment of treatment plants by the end of financial year 2015-16 for treating the effluents/sewage falling into the lake and making regulations by March, 2016 for aqua tourism, especially house boats and making them environment-friendly.

Establishing online pollution monitoring mechanism within nine months at strategic locations, strict enforcement of environment and pollution norms and punishing the violators severely and taking appropriate remedial measures within three months for aquatic weed infestation are the other steps suggested.