Kochi: A survey of mangrove trees on Mulayakad island in Kochi revealed extensive destruction by individuals involved in real estate, all in the name of developmental activities. This discovery was made by a well-known environmental activist.
A group of eight dedicated activists undertook the survey of mangroves in the region. The team was shocked to discover the extent to which the Vembanad lake had been compromised by those in the realty sector.
The lake holds protected status under the Ramsar Convention due to its international significance. Moreover, it falls within a highly protected Coastal Regulation Zone.
The activists reported widespread encroachment on the lake, achieved by cutting down mangroves and filling the land. According to one activist, real estate developers covertly construct ridges in the backwaters at night. Further, they quietly remove mangroves to fill the land with red soil, thereby encroaching on the water body. Significantly, these individuals have also erected boundary walls at various points along the backwater.
One activist warned that the lake will continue to diminish unless the administration takes decisive action against those encroaching upon it, adding that the lake has already shrunk to a third of its original size.
Reports indicate that approximately 10 acres of mangroves have been cleared recently. Furthermore, developmental projects, for example the international container terminal, have contributed to the destruction of around 110 acres of mangroves.
Environmentalists also noted that the mangroves are being destroyed through the use of chemicals in the ocean.