A view of the Kumaragiri Lake in Salem city.
| Photo Credit: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN E
The Salem Corporation, which has developed the Kumaragiri lake at ₹20 crore, plans to provide extra facilities worth ₹2.62 crore to convert the water body into a tourism spot.
The Kumaragiri Lake, spread over 39 acres, is an important groundwater source for the people of Ammapet in Salem city. The lake gets water from Kandhagiri via the Ramanathapuram stream. In a move to stop sewage mixing with the lake water, the Salem Corporation carried out development works under the Smart Cities Mission and constructed a compound wall, strengthened the bunds, and laid a walking path. Now about 300 people visit the lake for their morning and evening walks.
After the Corporation decided to convert the lake into a tourism spot, in July last year Mayor A. Ramachandran and officials went for a coracle ride and inspected it to provide boat services. The Corporation prepared a project report to provide additional facilities in the lake, including removing the water hyacinth at ₹40 lakh, buying a boat at ₹55 lakh, setting up a pontoon bridge (floating bridge) at ₹15 lakh, a musical fountain at ₹50 lakh, a 3D selfie point at ₹5 lakh, a room to provide entry tickets at ₹15 lakh, and a restaurant at ₹20 lakh.
Salem Corporation officials said the Corporation decided to carry out the work through a tourism agency and the entry and boating service fee for the lake will be shared between the agency and the Corporation in a 50:50 ratio. Tender will be floated soon to carry out the works, the officials added.
Published – February 02, 2025 05:49 pm IST