Velrampet Lake

Velrampet Lake is a 165-acre water body near Mudaliarpet in Puducherry, one of the few major ones to survive in the union territory, and once the main source of groundwater for neighbouring areas. Until October 2016 it was badly polluted by human waste, dumped plastic and illegal fishing. Under Lieutenant Governor Kiran Bedi, local residents and environmental groups cleared the plastic, and it was then declared an eco-tourism park.

A fence now surrounds the lake, and volunteers have helped plant bougainvillea, peltophorum, cassia tora, pongamia and kadamba to attract more migratory birds. The Puducherry tourism corporation has set up a small boat club for visitors.