Vellayani Lake pushed to the brink

Thiruvananthapuram: Vellayani Lake, the only freshwater lake in the capital region, is facing an unprecedented ecological crisis. An intense summer has left the lake at its lowest recorded water level, with vast stretches of its bed exposed, while large-scale encroachments and illegal land conversion threaten its very survival.Environmental groups, public representatives and volunteers conducted a joint inspection to assess conditions on the ground. The campaign, highlighted under hashtags #NotBeLATEforLAKEVellayani and #NotTooLateLikeTheLake, brought together members of Warblers and Waders, Kalliyoor Grama Panchayat, Loyola College's CODE Initiative, NGOs Thanal Vedhi and EPRC and the WhatsApp group Celebrating Waterbodies.The team found blocked canals, disrupted water flow and invasive plants such as African payal and water lilies choking the ecosystem. Near Kireedam bridge, over an acre of lakebed has allegedly been illegally filled under the cover of a govt-backed tourism project. Soil is being dumped to convert connected paddy fields into dry land.Kalliyoor panchayat president Shylaja S alleged that private parties were encroaching on the lake to build resorts and homestays. "Though stop memos were issued by the village office and Krishi Bhavan, the encroachments continued," she said. Officials from the agricultural and minor irrigation departments have submitted reports confirming the illegality, yet construction continues, allegedly aided by manipulated land classification records.The human cost is equally severe. Around 40 scheduled caste families along the Pallichal canal face repeated flooding during monsoons due to disrupted drainage, forcing them into relief camps annually. Environmentalist Sanjeev SJ warned that the destruction of the lake would have long-term consequences. "Vellayani Lake plays a crucial role in groundwater recharge and biodiversity conservation," he said.A public meeting has been scheduled for May 9 at the Museum compound in Thiruvananthapuram to mobilise support and plan further action.