The Tamil Nadu Government today sanctioned a sum of over Rs four crore towards cleaning of the famous 19th Century Ooty lake in Udhagamandalam, besides forming a taskforce under the District Collector to oversee its maintenance.

Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa has approved Rs 4.27 crore for the 20-hectare popular tourist destination in the hill district of Nilgiris, a State Government release here said.

Created by the British in the 19th Century, the lake is facing problems, including growth of excessive water hyacinth and pollution due to untreated water mixing with it, thus affecting tourists.

Following directives of the Chief Minister, works including desilting of the Kodappamanthu canal which brings water to the lake, upgrading facilities at the water treatment plant and scientific cleaning operations would be taken up, it said.

The Udhagamandalam Municipality has been directed by Jayalalithaa to give more than 6,700 homes and commercial establishments sewerage connections within three months.

Further, the District collector will head a taskforce of officials from PWD, Municipal Administration, Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, tourism and forest departments besides elected representatives to oversee the maintenance of the lake, it said.

The Government will provide Rs 50 lakh while the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation will share a similar amount for the creation of a fund, it said, adding that the latter had been directed to allocate Rs 25 lakh annually for this purpose.

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