Kochi: The Kochi Corporation’s project to clean the water body in Mangalavanam bird sanctuary, the green lung of the city, started on Thursday.
The desilting of the waterbody is expected to ensure proper water flow through the sanctuary thus helping to sustain the rich biodiversity of the area.
The civic body has given Rs 25 lakh for the cleaning project which was proposed by the Mangalavanam advisory committee.
The heavy silting in the water body has affected the inflow of water and fish from the open waters to it.
If the water body is de-silted to a depth of two to three feet, exchange of water will take place during high tide. When more fishes enter the water body, the sanctuary will attract more migratory birds, it has been observed. Now, the number of winged guests coming to the sanctuary is very few due to several reasons.
Apart from birds, Mangalavanam is home to rare species of trees and insects. The dense mangrove vegetation and the water body in the area serve as a shelter for migratory and resident birds. The patch of mangrove forest also accommodates a variety of marine and freshwater organisms.
Mayor Soumini Jain and Hibi Eden visited the sanctuary on Thursday ahead of the cleaning works. Town planning committee chairperson Shainy Mathew, councilor Deepak Joy and officials of the Corporation and Forest Department were also present.
