Thiruvananthapuram: Lack of fund delays lake survey

Thiruvananthapuram: The much-awaited survey of the Akkulam Lake - which is facing rampant encroachment and reclamation - is yet to take off due to fund crunch.  It's nearing a year since the Tourism Minister Kadakampally Surendran launched the Rs 128 crores-worth Akkulam Lake Rejuvenation Project with much fanfare. Ironically, the authorities are unable to raise Rs 2 lakh for carrying out the survey to facilitate the implementation of Rs 128 crores worth project.

As per the resurvey carried out few years back the lake is spread over 64 hectares. However, according to sources rampant encroachments have shrunk the lake further. The Akkulam Destination Management Council - the agency supposed to execute the project - is yet to getting the clearance from KIIFB (Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board).  KIIFB has rejected the DPR of the rejuvenation project and has asked for more detailed physical studies on the lake to ensure clarity on the estimates of the project.

 "The survey department has been asked to carry out a survey on the Akkulam Lake and parts of Amayizhanchan Canal to mark the boundaries. They have requested for funds to carry out the survey. We would be requesting funds from the Tourism Department, Environment Department or Revenue department for carrying out the survey," said an official.

However, lack of support from the Revenue Department is also a major challenge for the Survey Department. "Certainly there are several encroachments and while marking boundaries if we come across such violation we would need the assistance of the Revenue authorities. Interestingly, many of the encroachments have title deeds," said an official of Survey Department.

The rejuvenation project aims at cleaning up the polluted Akkulam Lake, by removing garbage and water hyacinth.

The quality of water in the lake will be improved using recycling technology. The project also envisages the installation of an intelligent onsite water quality monitoring system, which will provide live information on the water quality.