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Ooty Lake: Rs 7.51 Cr Clean-up Fails, Hyacinth Blooms
5 Oct
Summary
- Ooty Lake pollution persists despite a Rs 7.51 crore clean-up effort.
- Water hyacinth covers much of the lake, indicating severe eutrophication.
- Bird population has drastically reduced following the unscientific cleanup.
A significant clean-up of Ooty Lake, costing ₹7.51 crore, has proven ineffective, with pollution levels remaining high less than two years after completion. The waterbody is now largely covered by water hyacinth, a clear indicator of eutrophication due to uncontrolled pollutant runoff. This nutrient pollution stems from untreated sewage and agricultural waste entering the lake.
Conservationists point to the proliferation of water hyacinth as evidence of a flawed understanding of the lake's ecosystem. The desilting process also eliminated crucial sand banks and reed beds that previously helped filter toxins. This unscientific cleanup has had devastating consequences for local wildlife.
The lake's bird population has plummeted dramatically. In 2023, over 600 birds from 25 wetland species were recorded; by 2025 and continuing into 2026, this number has fallen to just 270 birds across 13 species. Bird watchers attribute this decline to the destruction of nesting sites and food sources.
Experts argue that clean-up efforts are doomed to fail without addressing the root causes of pollution, such as illegal dumping into the Kodappamund channel. Calls for a dedicated lake protection committee to coordinate efforts and educate stakeholders have been consistently ignored. Regular water quality testing is also recommended due to the lake's downstream flow into the ecologically sensitive Mudumalai Tiger Reserve.
