The Mannu Palla lake, a major picnic spot, will get an enhanced green cover with the planting of about 400 saplings around it, here.
The lake is located in about 100 acres of land in Manipal and about 60 acres are filled with water.
The rest is the land around the lake with about 2-km walking track and trees around. What adds to the beauty of the lake is a small half-acre man-made island with birds chirping on its trees.
A small portion of the land near the lake belongs to the Department of Forests. Various trees and other saplings have been grown around the lake by the Mannu Palla Lake Development Committee over the years.
Yet to give an enhanced and a colourful look around the lake, an initiative has been taken to plant 400 saplings by the Department of Forests.
The saplings are of Cassia fistula and Delonix regia. Besides these, a few fruit bearing saplings of are being planted for the sake of birds.
“These saplings will grow into trees in about four years. The Cassia fistula will bear yellow flowers, while Delonix regia will bear red flowers during the season and this will give a colourful look to the entire lake. The lake is already a beautiful place. Its beauty will be further enhanced,” said Cliffard Lobo, Range Forest Officer.
The planting of saplings taken up a few days back is expected to be completed by June 19.
“Many birds are also seen in the area. The fruit-bearing trees including gooseberry, and jamun are for the birds. Since the monsoon is on, the saplings will get water for another three months,” he said.
According to Narasimha Nayak, local municipal councillor, about 1,000 persons visit the lake daily. The number of persons visiting the lake was more during the summer than the monsoon.
After the work to remove silt from the lake was taken about eight years back, its water retention capacity had increased.
