Plan for revival of Akkulam lake

The government has drawn up a Rs. 30 crore project for reviving the Akkulam Lake and the Akkulam tourist village here.

Minister for Water Resources N.K. Premachandran and Minister for Parliamentary Affairs and Sports M. Vijayakumar told the media that lake would be dredged and cleared of waste materials as part of the plan to improve the flow of water. Besides, protective walls would be constructed along the banks with foot paths and electric lighting. The Kerala Maritime Development Corporation, Travancore Cements Limited and Inland Navigation Corporation would undertake the work.

In addition, the Harbour Engineering Department had tendered work for constructing two break waters, at a cost of Rs. 12 crore, to prevent formation of sand bar at Veli estuary after monsoon. Environmental clearance was awaited for the project. Besides, the Irrigation Department was undertaking a Rs. 8 crore scheme to clean up the Amayizhanchan Thodu which drains into the Lake.

Mr. Premachandran said that no environmental impact study had been conducted regarding the construction of backwaters though their construction would cause sea erosion in nearby areas.

He said that Chief Minister V.S. Achuthanandan would inaugurate the works at a function to be held in the tourist village on Wednesday. Besides himself, Food and Civil Supplies Minister C. Divakaran, Industries Minister Elamaram Kareem, Mayor Jayan Babu and Members of the Assembly G.Karthikeyan, V. Sivan­kutty and V. Surendran Pillai would attend the function.