Alappuzha-Changanassery Canal clean-up begins

As part of the Vembanad Lake rejuvenation project, the removal of aquatic weeds from the Alappuzha-Changanassery (AC) Canal within the limits of Ramankary grama panchayat has begun.

The local body has sanctioned ₹1.16 lakh for the project. In the first phase, about one kilometre of the canal will be cleaned using an excavator. The panchayat is also planning to clean other waterbodies within its limits as part of the Vembanad rejuvenation initiative. It has already earmarked ₹6.5 lakh for it.

As part of the rejuvenation project, an initiative of the Alappuzha district administration, 28.72 tonnes of plastic waste was collected and removed from Vembanad Lake with the help of volunteers in recent months.

A report submitted by the Alappuzha district administration for the conservation of the lake is under the consideration of the State government. It contains recommendations submitted by expert committees.

Earlier, as part of the rejuvenation project, eight subcommittees - agriculture, fisheries, water resources, tourism, biodiversity, environment and sanitation, disaster management and climate change, and revenue - were constituted and they formulated a ₹188.25-crore comprehensive five-year plan for the conservation of the lake.

The report includes major recommendations such as establishing bio-boundaries, protecting aquatic and other species facing extinction threats, controlling the growth of aquatic invasive species, setting up sewage treatment plants, and faecal sludge treatment plants in the Kuttanad region.

It also suggests promoting organic farming on gradual basis, preparing a crop calendar, implementing integrated farming of paddy, fish, duck, and vegetables, adopting good agricultural practices, introducing climate resilient farming methods, supplying clean water to the lake through the Vadayar diversion project to control water pollution and salinity, establishing a Vembanad Wetland Interpretation Centre, and ensuring protection from floods caused by rainwater and tidal inflow.