Even while a total of 48 water bodies are being rehabilitated by the PWD under the recently launched ‘kudi maramathu thittam’ in the district, the Salem Citizens Forum has undertaken the work of desilting the picturesque Mookaneri lake, a major water body in Salem city by raising funds from the local public.
The desilting work of Mookaneri lake included strengthening and widening the eastern bund. The Forum, which has been maintaining the lake, approached the authorities seeking their nod for rehabilitating the lake and strengthening its eastern bund. After getting written permission, the Forum launched the work of desilting the lake.
The work of strengthening and widening the bund on eastern side of the lake to a length of 500 meters had already been completed. The bund is now seven meters wide. It may be recalled that the bund on the western side of the lake was strengthened and widened in 2010.
The desilting and deepening work, which commenced a month ago, is in full swing and the completion of this project will enable the lake in storing additional three crore litres of water.
The Forum has been raising funds for this project from its members and other well wishers through social media. There has been good response from all sections of society for this programme, says Piyush Manush, convener, Salem Citizens’ Forum.
The work is expected to be completed in the next two months. After the completion of the work, the Forum has planned to line the bunds with stone walls to further strengthen them and avoid wastage of water. The Forum members will be planting 3,000 saplings on the eastern bund.
The Forum has also plans of creating two more ghat steps so that the people can interact and enjoy the lake water, he said.
The Public Works Department’s 39-acre water spread, was resurrected by the Forum in 2010 at an outlay of ₹ 87 lakh under the public initiative and since then has been under its maintenance.
