College students cleaning the Avalpoondurai lake in Erode district.
As many as 120 students of VET Institute of Arts and Science took part in a lake-cleaning drive at Avalpoondurai lake on Thursday as part of an Independence Day initiative organised with the guidance of the Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI).The initiative, titled ‘Freedom from Trash’, was aimed at spreading awareness among students on wetland conservation, biodiversity and civic responsibility. During the cleaning drive, the students found a cormorant caught in a discarded fishing net. They carefully freed the bird and released it into its natural habitat.Avalpoondurai lake receives water through the Lower Bhavani Project Canal and Kurangan Odai Canal and supports water storage, groundwater recharge and wetland biodiversity. The programme also highlighted the threat posed by discarded fishing nets, plastic and other waste to birds and aquatic wildlife.The foundation has undertaken restoration and conservation efforts at the lake. The organisers said continued community participation and responsible use of waterbodies were essential for maintaining their ecological health. Published - August 14, 2026 06:41 pm IST
