Lake desilting, restoration begins in Kargil Nagar

Desilting and restoration of the five-acre lake in Kargil Nagar, Manali began on Saturday, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC). In addition to weed removal, heavy silt deposited over time in the water body’s bank was removed to improve water retention and flow to prevent stagnation and support better groundwater recharge in the surrounding areas. This restoration is to divert water entering the northern portion of the Buckingham Canal, GCC stated. Currently, the lake is divided into two separate sections due to siltation and weed overgrowth and steps are being taken to merge the two sections, restoring the pond to its original form, the civic body added. Further, an eco-park and a lake deepened to 20 ft, along with baby ponds reaching depths of up to 40 ft, are planned under a ₹2.5 crore project.