Minister Duraimurugan opens rejuvenated twin lakes near Katpadi

The Water Resources Department (WRD) has opened rejuvenated duplicate lakes - Kazhinjur and Dharapadavedu — adjacent Katpadi municipality successful Vellore with further facilities similar 3 man-made islands for section migratory birds, boating, and tiled walking way for visitors.

Minister for Water Resources Duraimurugan inaugurated the restored lakes, which are maintained by WRD, successful the beingness of Collector V.R. Subbulaxmi and Vellore MP D.M. Kathir Anand. “Apart from a recreational installation for locals, 2 rejuvenated lakes volition assistance to store excess rainwater during monsoon to its afloat retention capableness and recharge groundwater successful surrounding farming villages,” R. Ramkumar, Assistant Engineer (AE), PWD (Katpadi), told The Hindu.

Spread implicit 100 acres, the duplicate lakes are separated by a constrictive channel. Each lake, connected an average, tin store 35 mcft of water. Under the Rehabilitation and Restoration of Twin Lakes Scheme, the WRD has commenced the enactment successful December 2022 astatine an estimated outgo of ₹36.59 crore.

As portion of restoration work, 2 lakes were desilted to the archetypal extent of six metres. The lakes were besides deepened to store further rainwater during monsoon. A tiled walkers’ way to a region of six kms was laid astir the 2 lakes. A alloy fencing, which is 9 ft successful height, was besides erected to guarantee information of visitors, particularly children, from accidentally falling into the lakes. Boating facilities volition beryllium operated successful the coming weeks. “Restoration of 2 lakes volition besides forestall inundation of residential areas and surrounding villages during monsoon arsenic the h2o bodies tin store excess rainwater,” said K. Pari, a farmer. 

Artificial islands were created astatine the centre of the lakes truthful that the h2o bodies besides go a tourer hub. It volition pull migratory birds. Native histrion taxon were planted connected the islands. The Department of Horticulture and section farmers provided saplings for the lakes.

At present, much than 15,000 residents successful astatine slightest 8 surrounding villages beryllium connected these lakes for consumption. Borewells were laid astir the bund of these lakes by section bodies to conscionable h2o needs of its residents. Of 519 tanks successful Vellore, 101 are maintained by the WRD. In Katpadi, the WRD maintains astatine slightest 24 tanks, including Kazhinjur and Dharapadavedu.