The State chapter of the WWF-India in association with the Save Vellayani Lake Campaign of Kanthari - International Institute for Social Change organised a clean-up drive on the lake.
The clean-up drive by 26 volunteers was taken up on the portion of the lake adjacent to the institute and focussed on removing invasive water weeds and overgrown lotus plants. The prolific growth of invasive water plants and lotus plants prevent entry of light and oxygen to the water. This results in high sediment deposition and formation of sulphur dioxide which affect the fauna and flora of the ecosystem.
Representatives of Kanthari demonstrated the mode of clearing the weeds.
Paul and Sabriya, co-founders of Kanthari, and some of the foreign participants for their next training programme also joined in.
Lots of aquatic plants like African weed and hydrilla were removed by uprooting them, said A.K. Sivakumar, Senior Education Officer, WWF-India, Kerala.
The WWF officials feel weeds and excess growth of lotus plants in the lake need to be removed more extensively and in shorter intervals to keep the lake alive.
“The WWF plans to make this a long-term project and submit a proposal under the Wetlands Conservation Awareness Campaign of the State Wetland Authority of Kerala,” Renjan Mathew Varghese, State Director, WWF-India, said.
