Pookode Lake, the second largest freshwater lake in the State, is all set to get a facelift.
The lake, a major tourism destination in the district, is under the State Fisheries Department and tourism activities at the destination are being operated by the Wayanad District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC).
Though the State government had granted a sum of ₹2.99 crore for renovation of the destination under the ‘Improvement of experiential quality of the visitors at Pookode Lake’ project in 2012, the work came to a halt after the National Green Tribunal (NGT) issued a stay order.
Complaint
The project included paving of granite tiles over the pavements of the lake, renovation of the boat jetty, setting up of a floating restaurant, renovation of the children’s park, and landscaping and gardening. The stay order was issued after an environmental organisation in the area complained that the works such as setting up of a floating restaurant would adversely affect the very existence of the 12-acre natural waterbody.
However, work under the project resumed about six months back after the tribunal vacated the stay order.
Works such as paving interlock tiles on a 1.5-km stretch around the lake, renovation of administrative block and cafeteria and construction of a new toilet complex have been completed.
“Work on seating arrangement, landscaping and gardening as well as renovation of the children’s park are under way,” said Tourism Department sources. “We are expecting the remaining works to be completed by the end of November,” the sources added. Removal of weeds in the lake would begin soon, they said.
