Bid to promote tourism in Arunachal Pradesh
Itanagar: The Mehao Lake, a natural lake amidst lush green forest is located in the heart of Mehao Wildlife Sanctuary in Lower Dibang Valley District of Arunachal Pradesh is facing infrastructure facilities to make it a major tourist attraction in the state.
The Lake which water surface area is approximately 100.00 hectare with a periphery of about 4800 meter. While little below is another small lake called Mini Mehao lake which is 2.50 hectare in area, situated just 14 kms away from Roing, the district headquarter of the district, official sources informed.
Mehao lake is an upland lake situated at an altitude of 1640 mtr above sea level, it resembles a bowl on the hill top on Google Earth. It is an oligotrophic (low nutrient) lake and the water of the lake is crystal clear.
The area is very rich in flora & fauna as the Mehao Wild Life Sanctuary is covered with dense forest. The common associate of tree species found in this wild life sanctuary are – alnusnepalensis, populus ambeli, castanopsis indica, c.spicata, wuercus griffithii, q.amellosa, betula alnoides, albizia mollis, michelia spp., mangolia spp. etc.
The wild mammals like leopard, clouded leopard, leopard cat, jungle cat, fishing cat, spotted linsang, common mongoose, wild dog, jackal, Indian porcupine, Himalayan black beer, Assamese macaque, stump tailed macaque, slow loris, hoolock gibbon, sambar and barking deer and birds like great hornbill, goosander, large cormorant, mallard, godwall, cotton teal, three toed forest kingfisher, etc. are found in this sanctuary.
The migratory ducks has also been observed during the winter seasons in the lake, sources informed.
However, there is no road connectivity to the Lake as any kind ofdevelopmental activities that leads to deforestation is prohibited in the area without prior clearance or approval from the Wildlife Department.
There are two ways to visit to the Mehao Lake, one is through thebank of Deopani River covering 14 km from Roing and has to climb a steeper slope to reach to the lake.
Another is via Abango Village about 12 km from Roing by leaving the vehicle at last stop somewhere 5 km further from the village at foothills and then trekking for another 14 km on foot before reaching the Lake.
To make full survey or thorough view of the Lake one has to go fully prepared with light beddings and materials for one night halt as there is no provision for lodging in the vicinity. (UNI)