With a view to augmenting the local fish wealth, the Forest department is launching a project to plant chosen varieties of trees by the lakeside at the Periyar Tiger Reserve (PTR).
PTR assistant field director P.J. Shuhaib told The Hindu that through the project Vriksha Samridhi, Matsya Samridhi, the Forest department will plant six varieties of trees, including njaval (Syzygium cumini) and pattathali (Actinodaphne malabarica), along the lakeside. Fish species, especially the Mahaseer (Kuyil) fish, in the lake feed on fallen fruits of such trees and hence, planting these would ensure proper food security for the fish in the lake. “This will help increase the local fish production in the lake,” said Mr. Shuhaib.
“The department has identified seven tributaries, such as the Periyar river, Mullathode and Maruthalithode, that flow to the lake as part of the project. The trees are to be planted above the maximum water level (MWL) of the lake,” he said.
