THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Redemption is finally in sight for Killi river and Thettiyar, but the long-standing demand for cleaning the Akkulam lake - the most sought-after tourist destination- still remains on paper. Last year, the Tourism Department had begun a boat service on the lake to attract more tourists, but it came to a halt owing to the accumulation of water hyacinth. The authorities had then promised removal of the hyacinth on a war-footing, but nothing has changed. However, the problems plaguing the lake doesn’t end there.
A dump yard
The once-picturesque Akkulam lake has turned into a garbage pile due to the rise in construction works on its banks during the last five years. The delay in undertaking renovation works have also hurt the tourism possibilities of the lake. The government had proposed the second phase of Aakkulam Tourist Village Project, aiming to turn the destination into one with international standards. But, the renovation works are now moving at a snail’s pace, sources said.
Resources
The lake is also rich in biodiversity with plenty of native fish varieties such as pearl spot and tilapia and migratory birds flocking seasonally. “The water quality was much better earlier through the natural cleansing of high tide which gushes sea water by breaking the sandbar at Veli. But, those who are new to the city have only seen it as a water body infested with hyacinth. The lake itself has shrunk due to several encroachments in the name of development”, said Mohan Kumar, a resident of Akkulam, living here for the past 40 years.
Development
Earlier, the government had directed Travancore Cements Ltd to dredge the lake. A breakwater was also proposed to prevent seepage of wastewater and sewerage from upstream into the lake. Akkulam Destination Management Council, chaired by the Tourism Minister, was entrusted to oversee the cleaning of the lake.
According to Shelly Raveendran, co-founder, Trivandrum Development Front (TDF), the proposed recreation centre at Aakkulam could change the face of the lake to an extent. “ We need development and clean water. So, the approach has to be balanced. Sadly, no authority has taken efforts to redeem the lake. TDF has earlier proposed the Aakkulam lake as a major tourist destination as the area has been witnessing huge infrastructure development. The tourist village at Akkulam also remains on paper,” he said.
As per the sources with the Tourism Department, the workers are presently weeding out the undergrowth on the land at the site where the tourist village is proposed.“To remove water hyacinth from the lake is proving to be a tougher challenge. In the last six years, the council has managed to remove eight lakh square meters of hyacinth. Yet, more than four lakh square meters of weed still floats on the surface,” said an official close to the tourism department.
Meanwhile, Mayor V K Prasanth told Express that plans were on the anvil to clean-up the lake and it will begin only after the completion of the first phase of Killiyar mission project and Thettiyar Cleaning Project.“Of course, we can’t neglect the Akkulam lake. We can take up the cleaning works by September. Right now, we are focussed on Killiyar mission project. We will clean up all the rivers in the corporation limits step by step”, said Prasanth.
Periodical cleaning mechanism
According to Tourism Minister’s office, the government needs to raise separate fund for cleaning the Akkulam as it needs a periodical cleaning mechanism. “We can’t clean Akkulam lake like Killiyar and Thettiyar. It needs periodical cleaning as hyacinth will come again even after removing it. So, we can start the work only after sourcing the fund. At the same time, the previous government has diverted the fund allocated for cleaning the project by entrusting the dredging works to Travancore Cements Limited,” the Minister’s office said.