Islands for migratory birds, boating facility in twin lakes in Vellore will be ready by May 2024

Vellore's twin lakes, Kazhinjur and Dharapadavedu, to get man-made islands, boating facility, tiled walking track, and more by May 2023. WRD has fast-tracked work to complete before monsoon. Lakes help villages in 2 km radius to recharge groundwater. Compound, boating, islands for migratory birds, and native tree species to be built. WRD spending ₹28.45 crore on the project.

Man-made islands for migratory birds, boating facility and tiled walking track for visitors in the twin lakes - Kazhinjur and Dharapadavedu — near Katpadi town in Vellore will be ready by May next year.

Officials of the Water Resources Department (WRD) which maintains the twin irrigation tanks said that at present, more than 45% of the rejuvenation work of the waterbodies have been completed.

With the onset of northeast monsoon, the work might be slowed as the increase of groundwater level in its vicinity will result in water seepage into the lakes. This will affect the on-going desilting and deepening of the waterbodies. “We have fast tracked the work to complete as much as we can before heavy rains in December. The twin lakes help at least villages in its 2 km radius to recharge groundwater,” R. Ramkumar, Assistant Engineer (AE), PWD (Katpadi), told The Hindu.

Along with Mayor Sujatha Anandakumar and Deputy Mayor M. Sunil Kumar, Water Resources Minister Duraimurugan inspected the ongoing work, which was started in December 2022. Spread over 100 acres, the twin lakes are separated by a narrow channel. Each lake, on an average, can store 35 mcft of water. Under the Rehabilitation and Restoration of Twin Lakes scheme, the WRD took up the work at a cost of ₹28.45 crore.

The lakes are being desilted to the original depth of six metres. The lakes will be deepened to store additional rainwater during monsoon. A tiled walkers’ path is also being laid around the two lakes and a 9-ft.-high compound is being built to ensure safety of visitors. Boating facilities will also be done to attract local tourists.

Man-made islands will be built at the centre of the lakes to attract migratory birds. Native tree species will be planted on the islands.