Rudrapur, Feb. 8 -- The Nainital district administration plans to create unique identities for its famed lakes by planting flowers of distinct colours around each water body, officials said on Saturday. The initiative, aimed at boosting tourism and enhancing aesthetic appeal, is set to begin in the upcoming monsoon season, officials added. "We are planning to grow flowers of different colours around different lakes so that each lake develops a distinct identity. This is a new concept and its primary aim is to attract more tourists to the district," said Arvind Pandey, chief development officer (CDO) of Nainital. Nainital district boasts a rich network of lakes, including Naini Lake, Bhimtal, Naukuchiatal, Sattal, Garud Tal and Nal-Damyanti Tal, which draw thousands of tourists yearly for boating and scenic beauty. Officials believe colour-themed floral landscaping will further elevate these popular destinations' visual allure. Community participation will form a key component. "Community participation is a must for such works. We are encouraging local residents to associate with us, as they have better knowledge about flowers and vegetation suitable for the region, including which species can survive and bloom throughout the year," Pandey said. The project will launch at Sattal, about 23 km from Nainital district headquarters, which offers ample space for plantations. It will then extend gradually to other lakes. Bougainvillea has been selected as the preferred species. "Bougainvillea bears flowers in multiple colours such as purple, white and yellow. It is well-suited to the hill climate and topography, remains sustainable throughout the year and is not damaged by animals," the CDO said. He added that specific colour themes for each lake remain to be finalised. "Sattal has sufficient space, which is why it has been selected in the first phase. Other lakes will be taken up one by one. As for Naini Lake, it is already decorated with several species of flowers, and further steps will be considered in the future," Pandey said....