As water level drops, tourism at Thekkady lake could take a hit

Idukki: Thekkady Lake, the catchment area of the Mullaperiyar dam, is drying up amid intense summer heat. As a result, boats are scraping the lakebed forcing authorities to reduce passenger capacity on boats by half. With the water level in the Mullaperiyar dam currently at 109 feet, the forest department has decided to completely suspend boating services in Thekkady Lake if it drops to 108 feet. Since Friday, only a limited number of tourists have been allowed for boating. However, visitors who wish to reach the boat landing area can still do so by purchasing a Rs 75 ticket and traveling in forest department vehicles. Thousands of tourists who arrived after Vishu have missed out on boating, but many find some relief in being able to view the lake by traveling up to the landing point. Boating services at Thekkady are operated by the forest and tourism departments. Major boats include Vanajyotsna, Vanadarshan, Vanalakshmi and Periyar, along with KTDC's Jalayatra and Jalajyothi. Boats that normally carry 120 passengers have now been restricted to 40-50 passengers. Smaller boats with capacities of 19-20 passengers have also seen reductions. The decision comes as the now-exposed lakebed poses safety risks due to sand and slush, with the bottom of boats hitting the surface. As water levels fall, submerged tree stumps have started emerging. These are remnants of massive teak and other trees, believed to be 150-200 years old, left uncleared during the construction of the Mullaperiyar dam. Boating operations in Thekkady depend entirely on the water level of the Mullaperiyar dam. If it falls to 108 feet, suspension of services becomes inevitable. In previous years, when water levels dropped, a temporary jetty used to be set up about two kilometres away from the existing landing point. However, this year, such a facility is unlikely due to frequent elephant presence in the area. The earlier jetty site has now become a regular habitat for wild elephants and other animals, making it unsafe, said R Lakshmi, assistant director (east) at Periyar Tiger Reserve (PT), where Thekkady lake is located. The summer heat is also severely affecting wildlife. PTR is witnessing drying water sources within the forest. This forces wild animals to move out of the forest in search of water. The lack of summer rains has also led to drying vegetation and grass, posing a threat to wildlife survival. At the same time, animals such as elephants, gaurs, sambar deer, and occasionally tigers and leopards are being spotted near the lake shore, offering tourists rare opportunities to observe wildlife up close. Although a similar drop in water level occurred in 2022, authorities note that complete suspension of boating services remains a rare situation.