A bountiful monsoon has led to abundant water in Topchanchi Lake for the first time this season and more than five lakh residents of Katras that depend on it are happy with the knowledge that they are assured of regular and uninterrupted supply for the rest of the year.

Employees of the water supply division of the local civic body, Jharkhand Mineral Area Development Authority (JMADA), are relieved too that the water level has gone up and are already chalking out plans to launch boat rides, something that had long been abandoned in the artificial lake set up by the British in 1924 by tapping streams flowing down Parasnath hills.

On Friday, official said, the water level was at 58.6 feet, which was around 7.6 feet above last year’s highest level of 51 feet.

JMADA executive engineer and technical member Indresh Shukla said the increase in the water level was significant as a massive desilting exercise had been carried out at the lake last year as a result of which there has been a significant increase in the catchment area of the lake.

“Hence, if we are to compare the total volume of water since last year, then it can safely be concluded that there has been a considerable increase this year already. If the water level further increases, say, up to 72 feet, then we will have enough supply for two years,” he told The Telegraph Online.

A pillar at Topchanchi Lake to measure the water level Gautam Dey

Shukla said over 5 lakh cusecs of silt had been removed from the lake as a part of the desilting project conducted by the minor irrigation department at a cost of Rs 13.5 crore.

The lake starts to overflow if the water level increases to 78.6 feet, something that occurred last in 2011.

“Currently, we are also supplying pit water in Katras areas through BCCL’s Dharmabandh mines. This will continue along with supply of lake water. After all, the requirement of water has also increased,” said Shukla, adding that JMADA was planning to reintroduce boating facilities to attract visitors.

A water division employee deputed at Topchanchi Lake said the increase in the water level was good for JMADA employees too. “At a time when we are facing delayed salaries, and the major source of revenue is water charges, regular supply will ensure better revenue generation,” he said.

Developed as an artificial lake by the British in 1924 by tapping the 10 natural streams flowing through the nearby Parasnath Hills, Topchanchi Lake is a major tourist destination along with nearby wildlife sanctuary spread over 8.75 sq k.

Surrounded by several beautiful hillocks, the lake was once upon a time a favourite of filmmakers. Several Hindi and Bengali films, starring the likes of Dharmendra, Ashok Kumar, Uttam Kumar, Suchitra Sen and Girish Karnad, have been shot in these scenic locales.

The lake also attracts a large number of migratory birds, including

Little black cormorant, Pink duck, Black winged stilt, Common teal, Gadwall, Brown-headed gull, Spoonbill, Red crested pochard and Common coot.

In 2018, the Dhanbad Municipal Corporation had prepared a Rs 85-lakh beautification plan for the lake. But it had to be shelved because desilting work was pending.

JMADA sources said they were now working to repair the two guest houses near the lake to offer them to tourists for a night halt.