Reviving Rudra Sagar Lake

The Tripura Assembly recently expressed deep concern over the dying condition of the Rudra Sagar, the lone palace lake in the entire Eastern part of India. As part of the revival plan, the government has decided to ensure wetland in 250 hectares out of a total of 13,096 hectares of wetland and its catchment area.
About 42 per cent land of the Rudra Sagar, which had got a national lake tag, is being used for farming purposes which is having a disastrous impact on the ecological balance in the lake.
The water level which used to be 30 feet has dwindled to only 2 feet posing a serious threat to the pisciculture as well as boating facility on the lake.
While replying to a notice moved by Sukumar Barman and Manindra Chandra Das, members of the treasury bench, Tourism Minister Jitendra Chowdhury said that the government has been trying its best to revive the glory of the national lake.
Chowdhury said that an internally acclaimed organisation Wetland International, South Asia (WISA) had envisaged an action plan to save the Rudra Sagar following a directive from the Ministry of Forest and Environment.
However, the plan amounting to ` 7.62 crore was rejected by the Centre on the ground of unrealistic cost.
Another action plan was prepared by the Brahamputra Board following a request from the State Government in 2007. The project amounting to ` 14.96 crore has been sent to the Central Water Commission but the State Government is yet to receive any positive response, he pointed out.
Barman wanted to know whether the government will undertake excavation on the dying lake. In reply, the Tourism Minister said that a huge amount of money would be required to carry out the dredging on the entire wetland area.
Opposition leader Ratan Lal Nath voiced his concern over the dying condition of the 81 year old palace lake and appealed to the House to take all possible steps to save it.
In turn, the Tourism Minister said that a holistic approach is required to ensure a total facelift of the Rudra Sagar, one of the best tourist destinations in the landlocked state.