The huge lake with a sprawling 454 hectares at Karaivetti village near Keezhapazhur in Ariyalur district that has been declared as a bird sanctuary by the government seven years ago will soon get a facelift with all infrastructure facilities, said Collector T. Abraham, here on Wednesday.
Talking to The Hindu here recently, the Collector said that as many as 91 species of migratory birds including flamingoes, painted storks, spoonbill, etc, from several countries including Siberia, Tibet, central Asia, Russia and from parts of India were coming in large numbers and stay in the sanctuary for about eight months beginning from November every year.
The Collector said that the Forest department had already provided some facilities including a small watch tower and planted nearly 17,000 trees in the sanctuary for the benefit of the winged visitors to the sanctuary.
Mr. Abraham pointed out that the district administration had sent a proposal to the Tourism department for providing basic infrastructure facilities including roads, drinking water, toilets, special lights, a children’s park, museum, etc at a cost of Rs. 2.70 crore for the benefit of the tourists. The works will be taken up as soon as the fund is sanctioned by the government, he said.
He said the district administration had also sent a proposal to the Tourism department for providing several facilities like an auditorium, children’s park, toilets, high mast lamps, etc at a cost of Rs. 1.71 crore to the famous tourist spot of Gangaikondachozhapuram in the district.
He said that a guest house, museum, restaurant, toilets and other basic facilities were now being provided at a cost of Rs. 50 lakh. The district administration is also considering package tours to the Gangaikondachozhapuram and neighbouring areas in the near future.