The Padmatola lake spread over around 100 acre area in Nilgiri, which was lying in a shambles for years for want of care and maintenance, would go for renovation with foundation stone for the purpose laid by the Baleswar MP RK Jena on Wednesday.
The ‘State Wetlands Development Authority’ has approved Rs76 lakh for the renovation of the lake. Rs40 lakh is already with to the district wildlife department since about a year.
Despite having fund, the project hanged fire as the proposal was kept in abeyance after the administration planned to divert the fund for a minor irrigation project (MIP).
It was a big jolt for the forest department as the latter had to abandon the renovation project and refund the amount.
“At one point of time, we lost hope to revive the water body as the district administration had directed us to hand over the water body for MIP purpose. MP Jena played a major role in restoring the project. Finally, the Government agreed to go ahead with the renovation plan and the foundation stone was laid. With the sanctioned amount besides deepening the lake, the area would be beatified with watch tower around,” DFO HB Udgata said.
local MlA Sukanta Nayak , district Collector Pramod Das, wildlife expert Jayant Mardaraj, besides DFO Udgata and MP Jena were present.