Kerala Tourism to rejuvenate Akkulam lake

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Tourism plans to develop a walkers’ plaza, cycle track, bamboo bridge, green bridge, landscaped garden and intelligent onsite water quality monitoring system as a part of the rejuvenation and restoration of the Akkulam Lake with a project cost of Rs 128 crore. 

Removal of waste and water weeds from the lake to maintain its cleanliness will be on priority. Besides, the removal of plastic and other waste that reaches the lake, water will also be recycled to ensure quality. 

Decentralised Waste Water Treatment System (DEWATS) and watersheds will be set up. A living lab and an Intelligent onsite water quality monitoring system will be installed to test the quality of water in the Akkulam tourist village. A water purifying system will be installed in such a way so as to resemble a landscaped garden. 

The small hillock in the Akkulam lake will be landscaped and will be converted into a green island and a natural water purifying mechanism will be installed. 

Usha Titus, executive chairperson, Akkulam Destination Management Council, submitted the blueprint of the ambitious project to be executed by Kerala Tourism to Kadakampally Surendran, Minister for Tourism on November 13. The funds for the rejuvenation project will be provided by the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB). 

The project would be executed with public participation, the Minister said after receiving the report modeled on the lines of the rejuvenation and restoration of eight lakes in Coimbatore. The Rs 128-crore rejuvenation and restoration of the lake is in addition to the ongoing works in Akkulam tourist village to restore it to its old glory. 

A sum of Rs 4.93 crore had been sanctioned earlier for the Phase II development of the village that includes new music fountain, artificial waterfalls, swimming pool, landscaping, parking facilities, entrance , cafeteria, yoga and meditation center and landscaped garden.