Boothapandy tank, which is overrun by weeds and water hyacinths, in Kanniyakumari district.
| Photo Credit: B. Shankari Nivethitha
NAGERCOIL:Kanniyakumari district, which is dotted with water bodies, is now seeking help for their protection as several of them are overrun with weeds, water hyacinth and other invasive aquatic plants.The lakes and tanks, once a vital source of water supply for irrigation and domestic use, present a disturbing picture caused by shrinkage in area due to proliferation of invasive plants that block the overflow outlets and exacerbate the situation during monsoon.For instance, the waterbody located opposite the Government Taluk Hospital in Boothapandy has been in a neglected condition for years. Only a small patch of water is visible in the tank now.Chenbagasekara Pillai, a farmer from Thuvarankadu, says the condition of the tank has been worsening over the years. Earlier, farmers and other villagers directly maintained the water bodies in their region including the opening of outlet shutters. “However, the Public Works Department took control of the water bodies, which started losing their sheen and purpose.”Most water bodies in the district are interconnected, with one tank’s surplus filling another. “The invasive aquatic plants block or slow down the discharge of water and pose a threat to the tank itself and other connected water bodies,” he adds.
