Mangaluru : Officials from the Minor Irrigation led by Superintending Engineer Suresh Babu inspected the work of desilting and beautification of Gujjarakere, an old lake in Mangaluru.

The lake, near the Mangaladevi Temple, is among the few lakes that the Mangaluru City Corporation had taken up for beautification during the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rule. Except for construction of tank bund, a part of which collapsed few months after construction, nothing much was done. Silt, sewerage water and thick weeds have accumulated in the lake.

A months ago, the Minor Irrigation took up the work of beautifying the lake. For the last few days labourers have been deployed to remove the thick cover of weed. “We have to remove the weed, drain out the accumulated water and then decide how to go about the work,” said Superintending Engineer Suresh Babu.

The task for labourers has been enormous. Another problem faced by the Minor Irrigation officials is seepage of sewage water from the houses surrounding the lake bund.