Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

A better-looking Ooty Lake awaits tourists this summer

By D. Radhakrishnan

Udhagamandalam April 11. The Ooty Lake, a major tourist attraction in this hill station and a money-spinner for the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation, wears a marginally better look this summer. Eicchornea crassipes, known as water hyacinth, which used to cover a water spread of 18 out of 45 acres, has been cleared off the lake to an extent of 15 acres.

A Mumbai-based private company, entrusted with the Centrally-sponsored Rs. 1.74-crore scheme, hopes the remaining 3 acres, mainly on south-eastern and north-western sides, would be cleared of the weeds within 4-5 days.

The weeds were proliferating rapidly because of the unchecked entry of pollutants through the main Kodappamund channel running through the heart of the town.

In the next stage of the scheme, bio-chemical powders would be sprayed in the lake and underwater aeration done.

Though the work is a month behind schedule, it is expected to be completed during early 2005. However, with the lake continuing to smell like a "septic tank," experts say the success of the scheme would depend on effective prevention of sewage water entering the lake. But many lament that the civic administration is not rising to the occasion, largely due to its "callous and passing-the-buck" attitude. Though the municipal officials have been assuring that the town's sewage would be prevented from entering the lake, they are yet to translate their words into action. An apprehension being expressed by all sections is that as in numerous previous occasions, the huge amount, now being spent, would also in course of time "go down the drain."

The gross income to the Government from the lake during 2002-2003 was Rs. 2.50 crores as against Rs. 2.15 crores during the previous year. During the current year, a 10-15 per cent increase over that of the last year is expected.

A 40-60-seater 3-D theatre would be installed at the Boat House as a joint venture at a cost of Rs. 1 crore. The mini garden, near the lake, and the boat house canteen have been handed over to the private sector. With the tourist inflow slowly increasing, the number of visitors to the lake since the beginning of this month has registered a 10 per cent increase over that in the corresponding period last year.

Festival starts on May 10

Meanwhile, a meeting of the Nilgiris district summer festival committee held here today, decided to organise the 2003-summer festival between May 10 and 18. The Collector, K. Sellamuthu, presided. The festival would feature dance, drama and music programmes, including bharathanatyam, and magic shows. Boat races at the Ooty Lake would be held on May 11,18 and 25.

A meeting of the Nilgiris district flower and fruit show committee, scheduled to be held here today, was postponed.

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