Akkulam Lake rejuvenation plan stalls again

T'puram: The Akkulam Lake rejuvenation project has been further delayed after the implementing agency failed to attract qualified bidders for a scaled-down restoration contract floated earlier this month. The long-delayed initiative will now be re-tendered, with fresh bids scheduled to be opened in the first week of March.Wapcos Ltd, a central public sector enterprise under the Union ministry of Jal Shakti, overseeing the project, had invited e-tenders in early Feb for immediate, low-cost intervention works at the lake, estimated to cost between Rs 3 crore and Rs 5 crore.
The proposed contract was meant to address urgent concerns, including removal of water hyacinth and other invasive weeds, desilting of critical stretches, repair of damaged walkways and fencing, and reopening of basic public amenities to make the lake at least partially functional after years of neglect. However, none of the bids received met the technical and financial qualifications required to execute the work within the estimated budget. Contractors who participated in the bidding process informed Wapcos that the proposed cost was inadequate to carry out the envisaged works, citing rising operational and material expenses as major deterrents.A senior Wapcos official acknowledged the difficulty. "The latest tender did not draw qualified bidders, primarily due to the low cost estimate, which makes it difficult to execute the work effectively," the official said. "We are revising the tender conditions and will invite fresh bids in early March to ensure viable participation."The setback adds to mounting concerns over the lake project, which was originally conceived as a comprehensive restoration initiative with significantly higher funding and broader ecological goals. Earlier proposals, including one estimated at over Rs 90 crore, were delayed or shelved due to funding constraints, technical concerns and lack of contractor interest.Environmental activists have repeatedly warned that the lake's deterioration, driven by pollution, encroachment and invasive vegetation, not only disrupts its ecological balance but also heightens urban flooding risks. They argue that piecemeal, low-budget interventions are unlikely to deliver lasting results unless integrated into a long-term, sustainable restoration strategy.