Yet another makeover plan for Akkulam lake

Thiruvananthapuram: After a failed dredging attempt which lasted for around five year, the district administration is now thinking of alternative plans to remove water hyacinth and cleanse Akkulam Lake.

Among the many plans is a permanent connection between lake and the sea at Veli. Presently the sand bank is manually removed and reinstated when the water level rises.

A permanent contact with sea is expected to prevent water hyacinth growth. Officials are studying the probable impact of the project on environment.

The state government has recently been asked by the district administration to scrap the dredging and desilting which was progressing in snail pace. Government run Travancore Cements Limited which was conducted the dredging since 2010 had earlier informed that the 50 hectare lake will be cleaned by July 2014 at a time when sandbar was to broken here.

With water hyacinth multiplying by over 100 per cent every month disposing the dredged weed and waste has become difficult. Increasing polluted water entering the Akkulam lake and Veli area though various rivulets, hyacinth growth rate has increased and the dredging stalled.

District collector had deemed the dredging unscientific and has asked officials to look for alternative. The bank protection work and construction of walkway alongside the bank are almost complete.

The original plans for Akkulam lake developments include opening of coffee shops near the widest section of sidewalks which will be up to 10 metres. This is apart from plans for a cycle track.