Kazhuveli
Encyclopedia
Kazhuveli is the second largest brackish water lake
in South India
located in Tindivanam taluk of Villupuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu
. It is about 18 km north of Pondicherry. The tank lies adjacent to the Bay of Bengal
along the East Coast Road
and encompasses about 15 villages with a catchment area of 4,722 ha. Kazhuveli is an old mangrove forest, which has been degraded over period of time. The entire ecosystem of this wetland is completely destroyed and denuded due to human inference, chiefly, the establishment of salt pans and overfishing. It is one of the prioritized wetlands of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the 94 identified wetlands under National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme (NWCMP) operationalised by the Government of India
in 1985-86 along with Point Calimere
and Pallikaranai Marsh
in the state of Tamil Nadu. A total of 196 minor irrigation tanks and ponds drains into the Kazhuveli wetlands. Out of the total area of 740 km2, 47.22 km2 has been declared as protected area under Section 26 of Tamil Nadu Forest Act. In the northern parts where brackish water could be found, attempts are made to dig up channels in fish-bone design and mangroves species such as rhizhophora and avicennia
have been planted in extents varying from 50 to 100 ha annually. In the southernmost portions where seasonal water flow is available, plantations have been raised in total barren areas with appropriate species through schemes such as Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project and the National Afforestation Project. Various conservations tasks such as bio-upgradation, eco-development, community development works, protection, monitoring and evaluation are being implemented and seminars and workshops are being conducted since 2007 under the NWCMP.
Lake
A lake is a body of relatively still fresh or salt water of considerable size, localized in a basin, that is surrounded by land. Lakes are inland and not part of the ocean and therefore are distinct from lagoons, and are larger and deeper than ponds. Lakes can be contrasted with rivers or streams,...
in South India
South India
South India is the area encompassing India's states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu as well as the union territories of Lakshadweep and Pondicherry, occupying 19.31% of India's area...
located in Tindivanam taluk of Villupuram district of the state of Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu
Tamil Nadu is one of the 28 states of India. Its capital and largest city is Chennai. Tamil Nadu lies in the southernmost part of the Indian Peninsula and is bordered by the union territory of Pondicherry, and the states of Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh...
. It is about 18 km north of Pondicherry. The tank lies adjacent to the Bay of Bengal
Bay of Bengal
The Bay of Bengal , the largest bay in the world, forms the northeastern part of the Indian Ocean. It resembles a triangle in shape, and is bordered mostly by the Eastern Coast of India, southern coast of Bangladesh and Sri Lanka to the west and Burma and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the...
along the East Coast Road
East Coast Road
East Coast Road is a two lane highway in Tamil Nadu, India, built along the coast of the Bay of Bengal connecting Chennai to Cuddalore via Pondicherry. Presently, the East Coast Road has been extended up to Thoothukudi via Chidambaram, Karaikal, Nagore, Nagapattinam, Thiruthuraipoondi, Muthupet,...
and encompasses about 15 villages with a catchment area of 4,722 ha. Kazhuveli is an old mangrove forest, which has been degraded over period of time. The entire ecosystem of this wetland is completely destroyed and denuded due to human inference, chiefly, the establishment of salt pans and overfishing. It is one of the prioritized wetlands of Tamil Nadu. It is also one of the 94 identified wetlands under National Wetland Conservation and Management Programme (NWCMP) operationalised by the Government of India
Government of India
The Government of India, officially known as the Union Government, and also known as the Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of the union of 28 states and seven union territories, collectively called the Republic of India...
in 1985-86 along with Point Calimere
Point Calimere
Point Calimere, also called Cape Calimere, , is a low headland on the Coromandel Coast, in the Nagapattinam district of the state of Tamil Nadu, India. It is the apex of the Cauvery River delta, and marks a nearly right-angle turn in the coastline...
and Pallikaranai Marsh
Pallikaranai wetland
Pallikaranai wetland is a freshwater swamp in the city of Chennai. Situated adjacent to the Bay of Bengal, it lies about 20 km south from the city centre with a geographical area of 80 km2. Pallikaranai marshland is the only surviving wetland ecosystem of the city and is among the few and...
in the state of Tamil Nadu. A total of 196 minor irrigation tanks and ponds drains into the Kazhuveli wetlands. Out of the total area of 740 km2, 47.22 km2 has been declared as protected area under Section 26 of Tamil Nadu Forest Act. In the northern parts where brackish water could be found, attempts are made to dig up channels in fish-bone design and mangroves species such as rhizhophora and avicennia
Avicennia
Avicennia is a genus of flowering plants currently placed in the bear's breeches family, Acanthaceae. It contains mangrove trees, which occur in the intertidal zones of estuarine areas and are characterized by aerial roots. Species of Avicennia occur worldwide south of the Tropic of Cancer.The...
have been planted in extents varying from 50 to 100 ha annually. In the southernmost portions where seasonal water flow is available, plantations have been raised in total barren areas with appropriate species through schemes such as Tamil Nadu Afforestation Project and the National Afforestation Project. Various conservations tasks such as bio-upgradation, eco-development, community development works, protection, monitoring and evaluation are being implemented and seminars and workshops are being conducted since 2007 under the NWCMP.