Delayed opening of Thanneermukkom bund deepens environmental strain on backwater villages

The stench rising from the canals and rivers seems to be everywhere, seeping into homes, hanging over the polders and even tainting drinking water.

With villages in the backwater landscape surrounding Vembanad Lake facing a severe environmental crisis this summer, calls to open the Thanneermukkom Bund have gained momentum. Rising pollution levels in these water bodies, which have remained stagnant for months, have severely disrupted daily life, while also raising fears of disease outbreaks.