KOLLAM: The district Suchitwa Mission has initiated a novel move to save the dying Sasthamkotta lake, the largest freshwater lake in the state. The mission will train the representatives from different walks of life to create awareness among the people on how to prevent further destruction of the lake. The mission had earlier conducted awareness programmes in the catchment areas of the lake in Sasthamkotta during 2012 to 2015 in association with LSGDs. It had also spent Rs 5 lakh for the awareness programmes.
“The mission aims at result-oriented activities. The representatives of a cross section of society, including laymen, people’s representatives, students, teachers, Kudumbasree workers and various other sectors will be given training to make the respective segments aware of the programme. We make use of the Information, Education and Communication (IEC) support for this. Even other state workers’ representatives will be given training on environmental conservation,” mission district coordinator G. Krishnakumar told DC.
It is an alarming situation as drinking water is not available. The representatives will be identified with the help of LSGDs of West Kallada, Sasthamkotta and Mygappally. Small pockets will be identified to employ them for the target. Training will be given to a batch of nearly 50 representatives, he added. The mission also uses these ‘trained environmentalists’ to work among people in batches to orient them towards conserving the lake. The water spread area of the lake has come down to nearly half of its carrying capacity of 3.73 sq km and the water level is depleting at an alarming rate of 50 cms per year. The level has come down from a recorded 84 centimeters in November 2014 to 1.52 meters below the mean water level in the first week of March this year, which is an all-time low.
