The Thanneermukkom Bund is an embankment located in the Indian state of Kerala. It was constructed across the Vembanad Lake, which is the largest lake in Kerala and one of the longest lakes in India. The bund was built to control the saltwater intrusion into the Kuttanad region, which is a low-lying area known as the “Rice Bowl of Kerala.”

The primary purpose of the Thanneermukkom Bund is to prevent the mixing of saltwater from the Arabian Sea with the freshwater of the lake and the surrounding water bodies. This saltwater intrusion was affecting the agricultural land in the Kuttanad region, making it difficult for traditional rice cultivation and other forms of farming that require freshwater.

The bund is around 8.75 km long and was completed in 1975. It effectively created a barrier between the saltwater and freshwater, allowing the agricultural activities in Kuttanad to thrive. The bund also serves as a road connecting the northern and southern parts of the Kuttanad region, which otherwise would have been separated by water.

The Thanneermukkom Bund is an engineering marvel that has had significant positive impacts on the livelihoods of the people in the area. However, it’s worth noting that such interventions can also have environmental implications and need to be managed carefully to ensure a balance between the needs of agriculture and the preservation of the ecosystem.