Kochi: Gone are the days when almost every Kerala home used to have a pond to bathe and separate, well maintained wells for both drinking and irrigation purposes. With the advent of urbanization and the much hyped flat boom, every inch of land including precious water bodies like ponds, paddy fields and wetlands were unscientifically leveled to construct concrete buildings that do not complement with the milieu of Kerala.
Destruction of water bodies not just drastically reduces the ground water level thereby pushing up the atmospheric temperature but also would lead to the extinction of an array of exotic water birds and plants. Now, light seems to be at the end of the tunnel as the Government has finally decided to digitally map all water bodies that are at least 1 metre deep to derive a comprehensive data base of wetlands.

The mapping is being carried out by the Kerala State Biodiversity Board (KSSB) in association with the scientists from the Salim Ali Centre for Ornithology and Natural History and the Kerala Forest Research Institute. The mapping process is time consuming and is expected to span over a period of 10 months. The initial mapping that is being carried out by geographical information system would also be physically verified. The data derived from these surveys will help in the scientific management and conservation of wetlands of Kerala.

This project assumes greater importance as the wetlands in the State are under grave threat. With the completion of this project, we can hope Kerala would regain its lost glory as the land of pristine lakes and water bodies, the priceless gifts of nature, which not many places on earth can boast.