Thursday, November 7, 2024 The transformation of Kolavai Lake in Chengalpet into an eco-tourism destination faces a major setback due to an apparent delay from the railways in constructing a drainage outlet. The government has allocated ₹60 crore to enhance the lake’s capacity by deepening its expanse, which spans 2,179 acres. Last year, the Water Resources Department (WRD) deposited ₹3 crore with Southern Railway for the construction of the drainage outlet essential for the deepening process.
Despite this, the outlet construction has yet to commence, stalling progress on the lake’s development. A senior railway official has committed to addressing the current issue. Kolavai Lake, a year-round water source sustained by nearly twenty upstream tanks, is set to become a hub for eco-tourism with government plans to construct a watchtower, create an artificial island, and introduce boating and other recreational amenities.
The Water Resources Department (WRD) aims to boost the lake’s storage capacity from 476 million cubic feet (mcft) to 650 mcft, increasing its depth from the current 15 feet. Strengthening the foreshore bund is already underway as part of these efforts. However, the lake has also become a disposal site for sewage from nearby industries and towns, with six primary sewage outfalls identified.
The WRD official emphasized that plugging these outfalls is essential to ensure the waterbody’s viability for eco-tourism..
