The Ooty Lake, which is clogged with garbage and mud, is to be desilted to facilitate better flow of water into it.
A few months ago, the sewage treatment plant built to process the sewage flowing into the lake had to be shut down as the intake lines had become clogged prompting the Water Resources Department of the Public Works Department (PWD) to initiate the desilting of the lake.
A PWD official told The Hindu that the works would encompass only a section of the lake, where silt has built up over the course of the last few years.
The official added that the silt was being washed downstream from agricultural fields in the Kodappamund area, and also from sewage lines from hotels and restaurants.
“Once the lake is desilted, it will allow for better flow of water into the lake, and prevent flooding of the surrounding areas during the monsoon, as the lake will have an increased capacity to hold water,” said the official, who added that the Kodappamund Channel was already being cleared of garbage and debris to prevent waste from accumulating in the Ooty lake.
The desilting work will be carried out between January and March, and boating and tourism-related activities are not expected to be affected as only a section of the lake is being drained.
“Once the desilting work is completed, the depth of the lake in the portion where the silt is removed will increase by up to two metres,” said the official.
