Water crisis infuses life into Sasthamkotta lake society

Kollam: The district administration is reviving the decade-old Freshwater Lake Protection Society to conserve the Sasthamkotta Lake. It will coordinate projects and study reports by various departments to take adequate steps to save the Lake and formulate a water protocol that determines the utilisation and protection of freshwater. It will collect details of projects envisaged by the State Planning Board, Earth Science Study Centre, Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Biodiversity Board, Pollution Control Board and the departments of tourism and local self-governments.

The society will also strive to acquire Central aid for the Ramsar site conservation and constitute water management groups, including students and various organisations. It will further involve in the preservation of other water bodies. Sasthamkotta Lake, the largest freshwater lake in the state, is drying up at an alarming rate with nearly half of its total area of 3.73 square kilometres turning into dry, cracked land.

Despite attempts to maintain the already depleted lake, including planting trees along its catchment area, the water level is coming down by 50 cm each year. The drinking water distribution to the Kollam city and its suburbs will be gravely affected during the forthcoming season as a large quantity – over 35 MLD – is being pumped out every day. An alternative drinking water project to spare the dying Sasthamkotta Lake from over exploitation is also under consideration.