Visitors' dream vanishing

The picturesque 337-acre Foy's Lake is losing its charm due to negligence of authorities Photo: AKM Mohsin

Set amidst lush green and zigzag hills, the picturesque 337-acre lake has a great potential to attract tourists from home and abroad, but it is losing its charm due to negligence of authorities.

The Foy's lake, named after the Englishman responsible for its design, is located 8 kilometres from the bustling port city of Chittagong. It is more than just a water body that soothes minds and souls weary of din and bustles.

Nearly ten years ago, Mohana Lines Ltd, a local firm, came forward to turn the Foy's Lake into a modern amusement park without spoiling its panoramic surroundings. But bureaucratic tangles and unauthorised structures allegedly stand on the way, frustrating the initiatives of the private investor.

Worse still, the entire area is gradually becoming a dangerous place for visitors to trek in, especially during noon and evening hours.

There is virtually no security arrangement for the visitors who often fall victims of unpleasant incidents like mugging, eve-teasing and harassment as the anti-social elements rule the roost under the cover of ruling party's name and signboards.

The lake area is now dotted with slums and unauthorised shops. A gang of criminals reportedly control these structures and extort toll regularly. The shops on both sides of the road leading to the lake hamper free movement of the visitors.

Mohana Ltd won the tender in 1993 to build the amusement park cum tourist spot. The tender was floated by the Bangladesh Railway authority.

The company also prepared a draft design of the park after they got the lease of the 336.61-acre lake area including 40-acre water body, said its Managing Director MA Hakim.

Some features of the design were hand and paddle drive boats, twenty-two cottages atop 22 hills around the lake, a children's park with cable car, merry-go-round, mini rail and kids' car, another cable car connecting the 22 hill points providing visitors to travel from one hill to another, mini train communication to and from the main gate and the lake, artificial fountains and a reserve park.

However, the company did nothing in reality as per their design except erecting entrance gate, ticket counter and a small office and planting a few trees.

Mohana MD put the blame on red tape and non-cooperation of BR authority for its failure to implement the project.

He said as per agreement of lease, the railway authority was supposed to dismantle all illegal establishments in the lake area, fix the demarcation line and approve the design.

Sources said railway authority had objected to some aspects of the draft design, which included antique shop, fast food shop, toy shop, reserve park, post office, kids' boat club & adult boat club, mini rail, restaurant and cottage.

The railway officials, however, said the authority handed over the lake area to Mohana after evicting all illegal occupiers.

"Mohana Ltd had the total authority and control over the lake area from the day they got the lease. It is now their responsibility to demolish illegal structures," said an official.