Keralam Chief Minister calls for protecting Vembanad lake system

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan releases B. Madhusoodana Kurup’s book, ‘Exploring the Legacy of Fishing and Farming below Sea Level: Vembanad-Kole Wetlands of South India’, by handing over copies to former Fisheries ministers K. Babu and S. Sarma at a function held in Kochi on Friday.

Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan has called for steps to protect the ecology of the Vembanad lake system, which has come under severe stress due to a host of factors including climate change.

Mr. Satheesan was speaking at a commemorative function organised here to pay tributes to noted fisheries expert B. Madhusoodana Kurup who passed away recently.

Kurup, who co-authored the book, ‘Exploring the Legacy of Fishing and Farming below Sea Level: Vembanad-Kole Wetlands of South India,’ with Sileesh Mullasseri, had brought out issues facing the lake ecosystem, which has shrunk to 10,000 sq. km. from its original extent of 40,000 sq. km. Anthropogenic activities and impacts of climate change have adversely affected the lake system, which is spread over three districts of the State and sustains the lives of millions. He had also put forth a series of projects for the revival and protection of the lake, Mr. Satheesan said.

The Chief Minister suggested setting up a chair at the Kerala University for Fisheries and Ocean Studies (Kufos) in Kurup’s name to take forward the academic and research activities initiated by him. Kurup was the founding Vice-Chancellor of the university.

Mr. Satheesan released the book by handing over copies to K. Babu and S. Sarma, former Fisheries ministers. Fisheries Minister V.E. Abdul Gafoor presided.

Mayor V.K. Minimol, T.J. Vinod and Mohammed Shiyas, MLAs; K.V.P. Krishnakumar, councillor, Kochi Corporation; A. Bijukumar, Vice-Chancellor, Kufos; M. Junaid Bushiri, Vice-Chancellor, Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat); and P.C. Hari Govind, Registrar, Cusat, spoke.