Kodaikanal Lake to get revamped, but leaves a gap for environment

Kodaikanal Lake, which is one of the finest man-made lakes in India, is located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The lake, which is one of the prime attractions of Kodaikanal, and the state in general, is now on the cusp of getting revamped. According to reports, the municipal corporation of Tamil Nadu is planning to revamp it, while also conducting a survey. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, Edappadi K. Palaniswami has in fact announced INR 100 crore to revamp the lake. However, environmentalists suggest that the lake should also be worked on for the betterment of the environment as well.
As of now, according to reports, the lake is going to get an upgrade with the help of paving blocks, in order to avoid flooding during rains. Further, the municipality is also planning to place lamps that will improve the aesthetic of the lake, beautifying the spot to attract more tourists. The municipal corporation is also pondering on disallowing vehicles around the lake. Instead, visitors could be riding battery-operated cars that will transfer them to the boat jetty.


While these plans seem grand, there are environmental concerns as well. As of now, environmentalists do not agree with the plans as it is only going to beautify the lake’s exterior. Environmentalists argue that the lake actually needs cleaning from the inside. Moreover, the area around the lake has become a dumping ground for garbage and suffers from lack of maintenance.
That is not all as the environmentalists also emphasised on the fact that the lake needs a waste management plan as well, and dumping waste here should be strictly prohibited.