Bodinaickenpatti Lake beautification works to be over by January-end: Salem Corporation

Beautification of Bodinaickenpatti Lake in Salem to be completed by January-end, with additional diversion channels pending government approval.

Beautification of Bodinaickenpatti Lake will be completed by January-end, according to the Salem Corporation officials.

The lake, which is spread over 20.25 acres in the Suramangalam zone and is an important water source in Old Suramangalam and J.J. Nagar, was taken up for renovation on June last year at ₹19 crore, following an announcement by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin during his visit to Salem in 2021. The works were scheduled for completion in June this year. However, the works are continuing.

The AIADMK councillors, while speaking in the Salem Corporation council meeting recently, charged that the works at the lake were going at a slow pace and there was no proper drain facility in the lake. The Corporation officials denied the allegations and said that in addition to the beautification works, a detailed project report was sent to the government for construction of diversion channels at ₹57.5 lakh and was waiting for government approval.

A senior Corporation official said the civic body had issued a notice to the contractor for not completing the works on time. The contractor was instructed to complete the works by January-end. “The construction of diversion channels will be taken up when the government gives its consent,” he added.