Cooch Behar, July 21: An eye on conservation and a nose for business has helped Madhabhanga I panchayat samity to transform Damdama Jheel from “just another lake” to a tourist destination.

The Rs 10-lakh project, which the samity members are confident of completing within the current fiscal, will include paddleboat rides in the lake hemmed in by a man-made forest.

Sabhadhipati of the CPM-run samity Lalchand Barman said: “We have set our sights on putting this nondescript hamlet on the district’s tourism map. Not only will the move keep the lake clean, it will help the economic interests of the community.”

Asked how they hit upon the idea, Barman said: “We did not want to limit ourselves to providing health facilities and education. So we decided to do something that would open new avenues of generating revenue for the residents,” he said.

The 25-bigha lake is around 8 km from Mathabhanga subdivisional town in Gopalpur gram panchayat area. Damdama is in Bhogmari village close to the Indo-Bangla border.

Its proximity to the Mathabhanga-Siliguri state highway, panchayat samity sources said, would be an added bonus once the spot was opened to tourism. “Visitors throng a temple, a short distance away, all year round. People coming here will definitely like to spend some time boating in these tranquil waters while they are here,” a panchayat samity member said.

“An island in the centre of the lake will house a deer park, a garden and a children’s park. Plans for building a resthouse are also in the pipeline,” said Chiranjib Ghosh, the block development officer of Mathabhanga II.

Residents, too, are confident that the sylvan surroundings that have been created to please the eye will help the area generate revenue through tourism.

“We are working on cleaning a 45-bigha lake near Damdama, so that both the water bodies can be used by visitors. The panchayat has already begun pisciculture in the lake,” said Devi Burman, the pradhan of Gopalpur gram panchayat.

“We have planted more than 15,000 saplings around the lake. Once these grow into trees, the tourist destination will have the feel of a natural lake set in a forested surrounding,” she added.

The pisciculture plan, too, is part of a business objective.

“The panchayat samity will spare Rs 10 lakh for the purpose of the lake’s makeover. We have released fish in the lake with the aim of raising more money for the beautifying the surroundings. We will sell the fish after a few months,” a panchayat samity member said.

The lake will turn into a tourist destination before the next season. Paddleboats will be bought before the pujas.

No one has, however, lost track of the conservation plans.

Villagers have already formed the Jheel Suraksha Committee and a watchers’ club to ensure that the lake is kept clean.

“We want to develop the lake and at the same time preserve the water body. Never will we allow the monetary aspect to overshadow our conservation efforts. We want to highlight our effort as a model of rural tourism,” Barman said.