Haldwani, March 6 -- Uttarakhand government has approved a Rs.38-crore project to repair and strengthen the weakened retaining walls along the banks of Naini Lake, officials said on Thursday. The project is considered crucial for protecting the lake and ensuring the safety of the surrounding town. According to the irrigation department officials, several protective walls built along the lake's perimeter have deteriorated over time, with cracks, rockfalls and water seepage becoming increasingly common. Experts have warned that if repairs are not carried out in time, the weakened structures could pose a serious risk of landslides and structural failure around the lake area. Executive engineer Irrigation department Dinesh Kumar Singh said a detailed investigation was carried out after a portion of the Lower Mall Road caved in earlier. "Experts found that the retaining wall along the lake had weakened and was buckling under water pressure. Strengthening the wall is essential to ensure a permanent solution for the lake's protection," Singh said. Officials said the project will involve repairing and reinforcing retaining walls along nearly 2,400 metres of the lake's shoreline. The work will include construction of new retaining structures, stone masonry, wall reinforcement and crack repairs, using techniques suited to the area's geological conditions. Construction will be undertaken based on scientific assessments of soil stability, slope and water pressure at various points along the lake's edge. Another key component of the project is improving the lake's drainage system. Officials said drains carrying dirt and silt into the lake will be cleaned and upgraded to prevent rainwater and debris from directly entering the water body, which will help maintain its water quality and depth in the long term. The initiative forms part of a broader conservation plan for the lake and will also include safety measures along the banks to prevent landslides and subsidence. The work is expected to be completed within two years and will be carried out in phases to minimise disruption to tourism activities in Nainital. Officials also cited findings from a study conducted by the Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology's fisheries science department. The study found that common carp fish scrape moss and mud from the lake walls while searching for food, which may gradually weaken the lakebed and shoreline structures. Researchers also pointed to another emerging concern. Sweet corn sold near the lake attracts rats as tourists often discard leftovers along the shore. The easy availability of food has led to a rapid increase in the rat population, which has begun burrowing into the retaining walls and hollowing them from within, further weakening the structures, officials said. To assess the increasing pressure on the Nainital lake area and surrounding slopes, officials point to rapid urban growth in the hill town. Nainital, which covers just 11.73 sq km, has seen its population rise from 7,589 in 1881 to 41,377, according to the 2011 census. The town also hosts a floating population of 10,000-15,000, including lawyers practicing at the Uttarakhand high court, apart from a steady influx of tourists. Construction has also increased sharply over the decades. The number of buildings in Nainital, most located on slopes, has risen from about 520 in 1901-02 to over 7,000 today....