Matsyagandha Lake
{{Short description|Artificial lake in Saharsa district of Northern Bihar, India}}
File:Matsyagandha Lake bsut.jpg
Matsyagandha Lake (मत्स्यगंधा) is a 1.50 km by 200 m artificial lake in the Sattar Kataiya block of Saharsa district of Northern Bihar region in India.{{Cite web|date=2020-04-29|title=मंजूरी: मत्स्यगंधा झील के कायाकल्प की योजना को हरी झंडी, सालोंभर रहेगा पानी|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/news/green-plan-for-rejuvenation-of-matsyagandha-lake-water-will-remain-for-years-127258439.html|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi}}
The lake was conceptualized in 1996, by the then Saharsa Collector, Tej Narayan Lal Das, as a development of wasteland used to cremate bodies.
As a result of neglect, the lake shrunk between 2006 and 2017, almost disappearing by 2018. In June 2020 the lake was planned to be renovated at the cost of ₹ 7.47 Crore (USD 1.02 M),{{Cite web|title=सहरसा स्थित मत्स्यगंधा झील की लौटेगी रौनक,दिया जा रहा झील को अंतिम रूप {{!}} navbiharpatrika|url=https://navbiharpatrika.com/lake-in-saharsa-renovation-completes-in-june/|access-date=2021-04-05|website=navbiharpatrika.com}} by the Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali mission under the Government of Bihar, to be carried out by the [http://minorirrigation.bihar.gov.in/bsnny/ State Department of Minor Water Resources], and includes increasing the depth by 2 meters, expanding the size of the lake to 81 acres, and capacity to 6000 m3.
Etymology
The name of the lake is derived from the semi-mythical character of Matsyagandha, the wife of King Shantanu. She is also the mother of the sage Vyas, fathered by the wandering rishi (sage) Parashara.
Facilities
There is a Matsyagandha temple nearby, which houses a small temple pond with idols of Gods and Goddesses. The lake has the facility for boating and speed-boating at a chargeable basis,{{Cite web|date=2021-01-01|title=उम्मीदें...: मत्स्यगंधा झील में होगी बोटिंग|url=https://www.bhaskar.com/local/bihar/bhagalpur/saharsa/news/boating-will-be-done-in-matsyagandha-lake-128072965.html|access-date=2021-04-05|website=Dainik Bhaskar|language=hi}} however, due to low water levels, boating is intermittent. There are plans for lake improvement for tourism by developing an 8 feet wide pavement lined with trees and park benches.{{Cite web|title=Matsyagandha Lake will be Developed: CM - PatnaDaily|url=https://www.patnadaily.com/index.php/news/6733-matsyagandha-lake-will-be-developed-cm.html|access-date=2021-04-05|website=www.patnadaily.com}}
References
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{{coord|25|54|15|N|86|35|15|E|type:waterbody_region:IN|display=title}}