Velrampet has been added to the list of tourist spots in the town on Sunday with the launch of boating facility at the sprawling lake there.
The facility was inaugurated by Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi after a symbolic boat ride by officials from various departments, police officers, students and the locals. As part of her weekend programme, Ms. Bedi, along with the officials, cycled to the lake in the morning.
Ms. Bedi, who had taken upon the task of cleaning up the lake after she took over as Lt Governor, said “the revival and transformation of the lake was a model of good governance and symbol of the strength of collective working. It is a dream come true and will benefit the people of the area.”
The Pondicherry Tourism Development Corporation would deploy four-seater and two-seater paddle boats and a kayak. In future, more boats and kayak along with boatmen and life guards would be stationed in the lake, she said.
The municipality had been directed to provide more benches and spruce up the public toilets. The Electricity Department had been asked to provide street lights along the periphery so that the public could take out evening walks.
The college in the vicinity had been directed to send its students for nature activity, Ms. Bedi said. Lessee, an organisation which was given fishing rights, had agreed to introduce recreational fishing. They would provide a hook and line at a minimum cost to tourists who wanted to involve in leisure fishing.
Ms. Bedi began her weekend tour on Saturday by inspecting the beach restoration work and taking a trip to Vedashram Gurukulam near Karuvadikuppam.
Beach restoration
After inspecting the work, Ms. Bedi, in a message, said work on restoring the beach by the National Institute of Ocean Technology is expected to be over by next year.
She said, “In another year, Puducherry will be able to have a proper beach.”
In March last, NIOT started work on conserving the promenade stretch, starting from the northern side of the harbour.
As per the project plan, two submerged reefs would be built at a distance of 125 metres from the sea near the Chief Secretariat and south of the new pier. The reef near the Secretariat would be funded by NIOT at a cost of ₹25 crore, while the other by the territorial administration.
She complimented the trust which runs a gurukulam for its contribution to spread Sanskrit.
Once the trust submits a proposal, the government would make a formal request to Sanskrit Academy to support the Gurukulam, Ms. Bedi said.
The Sanskrit Department of Pondicherry University could extend support to the Vedashram Gurukulam. “I will suggest to the Vice-Chancellor to link their Sanskrit Department with the school,” she said in the message
