The State Wetlands Development Authority has decided to renovate a vast water body in Nilgiri.
The water body was once the most favourite destination of the royal families of the erstwhile princely State of Nilgiri. But later, it was abandoned and no successive Governments took any step to renovate it.
Known as the lake at Kansa near Ayodhya, the water body was originally spread over about 100 acres, but currently it has shrunk considerably with only 41.26 acres of area left. The rest land falls under four mouzas namely Nimpal, Narsinghpur, Duragpur and Birsahpur.
Jayant Mardraj Harichandan, honorary wildlife warden of Baleswar as well as a descendent of the royal family of Nilgiri, said, “A lot of correspondences were made with different departments of the State Government including the Tourism, the Panchayati Raj and the Forest, for revival of the lake, but no response was found.”
He, however, expressed his happiness to find that finally the Forest Department has agreed to take up the lake under the programme of State Wetland Development Authority.
“It was the biggest water body of north Odisha. Since the natural lake in those years was bearing innumerable lotus flowers, it was popularly known as Padmatola. Besides, it was a major bird sanctuary, where hundreds of birds used to congregate from different places round the year,” he said.
“Without care and maintenance and mainly due to neglect in de-silting and clearing the channel link between the water body and Sunei river, the lake starved for fresh water,” he said, adding that it was one of the reasons why the lake was left unused for long years.
Birds of different varieties still continue to converge in the lake during winter and in the last waterfowl census in December last, more than 200 birds, including Indian Pond Heron, Cattle Egret, little Egret, Intermediate Egret and Asian Openbill were noticed by the experts.
The locals say that the revival of the lake could transform it to a place of eco- tourism and could be another important venue of attraction for the tourists who visit Remuna for the Khirochora Gopinath temple and Nilgiri for the Panchalingeswar temple. After its renovation, the vast lake could provide boating facilities and also can help boost irrigation in
the area.
Baleswar DFO Harshbardhan Udgata said the lake has been considered for conservation and protection under the Wetlands Development Authority along with four other water bodies in the State such as Ansupa, Kanjia, Kunaria and Deras.
“The preparation of management action plan (MAP) for Padmatola is underway. RK Mishra, faculty member of the Wildlife and Biodiversity Conservation Department of the North Odisha University and HK Sahu, head of the Department Zoology of the same university have been assigned with the task,” Udgata informed, adding that, “Aftersubmission of report by the experts, funds would be released by the Wetlands Development Authority.”
District Tourism Officer Biswajit Rautray said, “There are several other places in Nilgiri and Remuna which are yet to be included in the tourism list. Although we have knowledge about the Padmatola, yet it is also not included in the list as it is in a defunct State with unwanted growths.”
The natural land with biodiversity could boost the eco- tourism potential of the district once promoted, he hoped.