Nilagiri: Padmatola lake in Narsinghpur area under Nilagiri block of Balasore district is choked with silt and soil deposits. It is now in a moribund state. As the lake used to play a crucial role in nurturing the local biodiversity, residents here have long been pressing for its renovation and revival. Finally, their hopes have been rekindled after Nilagiri MLA Sukant Nayak and the officials of the Water Resources department visited the area. Kansa lake is another large waterbody in Nilagiri area. It is also bunged up due to siltation.
Since the erstwhile Royal regime, Padmatola lake has been a centre of attraction for tourists in Nilagiri area of Balasore district. A large number of tourists from various parts and outside the state come to the place to witness the natural beauty of the water body. Thousands of domestic and migratory birds thronging the lake in winter add to its attraction. Every year, the Forest department carries out bird census on the lake. The Padmatola lake is spread over an area of hundred acres. Over years, the lake has become shallow with cumulative deposits of silt and soil sans any renovation work.
Expressing concern over the moribund state of the lake, Nilagiri MLA Sukant Nayak has long been demanding its renovation and dredging so that the lake can be instrumental in water conservation and irrigation in the area. In the past also, Nayak had raised the issue of renovation of the lake in the Assembly. Recently, after Nayak raised the issue in the Assembly, Water Resources Minister Tukuni Sahu took serious note of it and later directed the officials of the department to conduct a field visit. The officials had been asked to submit a report by December 31 to the department.
The additional chief engineer of the Water Resources department Ramesh Kumar Sabat, the executive engineer of Balasore division Manas Das, SDO of Nilagiri minor irrigation division Nimai Nayak, junior engineer of drainage division Ramesh Das and many people’s representatives visited the site Wednesday. The visit has ignited the hope of revival of the sprawling lake.