Community efforts revitalise Nanmangalam lake despite ongoing environmental abuse

Nanmangalam: In Nanmangalam, where a lake and a reserve forest are located cheek by jowl, the view may not be picture-perfect.

The health of a lake is directly proportional to the acts of positive reciprocation it receives from the people it serves. Its health is also predicated on the pride it instils in those people. The Nanmangalam lake is presented with a mixed bag. It is subjected to abuse by those in a position of stewardship towards it. Yet it also has two groups of people that make sure it stays in the news, its charms being extolled and its blights highlighted.

These groups vary in their composition, but have found a point of intersection where goals unite into something composite: preserving and cherishing the Nanmangalam lake. Thanks to people’s participation in improving conditions and its wildlife, the picture is eye-catching as well. Around International Day for Biological Diversity, observed on May 22, a close look at the ecosystem shows how community efforts are working to revitalise the lake amid persistent environmental challenges