The iconic Ooty Lake that a tourist cannot miss on her visit to Udhagamandalam has turned 190.
The Nilgiri Documentation Centre organised an event to mark the occasion. A copy of the 1851 painting of the lake was presented to the manager of the Boat House.
Director of the centre Dharmalingam Venugopal told The Hindu that the lake was the brain child of John Sullivan, the father of ‘Modern Nilgiris.’
Works to enhance the beauty of Ooty started in 1823.“Though there is no exact mention on the date when the lake work was completed, records state that the lake with seven-mile circumference was completed in June-July 1825,” Mr. Venugopal said.
While the beautification part was fulfilled, the utility part was partly fulfilled by providing water to tribal people.
The greater purpose of taking water stored in the artificial lake to irrigate the Sigur Plateau and Erode — about 70 miles from the lake — was not possible. It was because the Governor in Council turned down the proposal from John Sullivan seeking Rs. 2,000 for this project — citing inadequate funds.
Over the decades the lake has suffered breach and leaks due to heavy rain in 1830, 1846, and 1852. In 1831 willow trees were planted on the bunds of the lake to strengthen it.
“Now, only one of those willow trees remain at the entrance of Race Course,” Mr. Venugopal said.
The size of the lake has shrunk to about three miles now as a vast portion has been converted into the Race Course and the bus stand. According to the documentation centre the lake witnessed 20 lakh foot falls in 2014.
He said that involvement from residents and business houses could make the lake — marching towards the bicentennial celebration — a better tourist attraction and prevent its destruction.
