Topchanchi, one of the most popular tourist spots of the region is lying in shambles due to abject administrative neglect.

As a result it is causing a lot of difficulties to picnickers from Dhanbad, Bokaro, Giridih, Jamtara and adjoining areas of Bengal.

The shoddy state of affairs can be assumed from the fact that one of the important bridges situated on the bank of the lake has been lying damaged since more than three months making travelling around the scenic lake a one-way affair leading to traffic congestion.

Not only this, the two guest houses of the civic body, Jharkhand Mineral Area Development Authority (JMADA)-the custodian of the lake is also lying in extremely bad shape due to lack of renovation turning them useless.

All this, despite the fact that due to abundant rain during this monsoon, the lake is flowing at 75 feet only 3.5 feet below the maximum level of 78.5 feet adding beauty to the scenic beauty of the lake surrounded by a group of hillocks.

Notably the comprehensive broadening and strengthening of the 5-km road lying all around the lake has been carried out by JMADA as part of a series of projects but due to heavy transport vehicles plying over the bridge constructed during the British era, it has been damaged.

Talking to The Telegraph Online on Thursday, Raman Sinha, a picnicker who visited the site along with his wife and children, said, “It is one of the best picnic spots of the region as the serene locales also make it a favourite for the wide variety of migratory birds.”

Developed as an artificial lake by the British Government in 1924 by tapping the ten natural channels flowing through the nearby Parasnath group of hills, Topchanchi lake is a major tourist destination and besides the lake a wild life sanctuary situated on 8.75 square km area also draws a large number of tourists.

Surrounded by several beautiful hillocks, the lake was once popular among filmmakers and film stars including Dharmendra , Ashok Kumar,Uttam Kumar, Mazhar Khan, Girish Karnad, Suchitra Sen who have shot here.

Indresh Shukla, Executive Engineer cum Technical Member of JMADA said, “We will carry out repair of the bridge after the water level recedes in two-three months and simultaneously the pending work around the road will also be completed.”