Mysuru: On Thursday, due to public opposition for the ongoing desilting and other developmental works undertaken at Kukkarahalli Lake by the University of Mysore and district administration, Deputy Commissioner D Randeep had issued a temporary suspension. However, after going through the details of the project he has ordered the resumption of work on Friday.
On Friday, there was tense situation in Kukkarahalli Lake premises when both the supporters and opponents of desilting work got into a verbal confrontation. But later the situation was brought under control by opposing groups themselves.
The varsity and the district administration are jointly implementing the Rs 3 Crore project which includes Rs 65 Lakh reserved exclusively for desilting purpose. The project was launched on February 14.
D Randeep said, “The work was temporarily suspended owing to public opposition. However, on perusing the records, we realised that appropriate permissions for lake development including desilting have been taken. There is also the DC office meeting proceedings available where the lake development experts are signatories. Even Ravi Kumar who is a part of the protest happens to be a signatory to the proceedings including desilting work. I don’t know why they are opposing the work now. As of now desilting is happening at one corner, which is not filled with water. Desilting is going to create more storage area. If there are issues, they will be resolved over the table”.
The activists are arguing that the desilting and deweeding of the lake in the drought year will cause severe damage to the water retention capacity of the lake and said that it could lead the water body to go dry. They continued their agitation at the lake bed trying to inform the morning strollers and joggers that the lake is facing danger. However, some questioned their opposition to desilting pointing out that it will help the water body to improve its holding capacity. But there is a growing concern about the plans to construct toilets, boating jetty and shelters at the lake area, which will mar the green cover at the site.
Few days ago, a delegation from Mysore Grahakara Parishat comprising U N Ravikumar, member of the Kukkarahalli Lake Advisory Board, Maj.Gen.(Rtd) Vombatkere, environmentalist Bhanu Mohan, S D Saokar, President, MGP and Shobana, Working President, MGP recently had met Dayanand Mane, In-charge Vice Chancellor of the University of Mysore who is also the custodian of Kukkarahalli tank and the Deputy Commissioner D Randeep who is the District Lake Authority. The delegation briefed them about the work going on at present at Kukkarahalli tank which they claimed, instead of improving the tank, was damaging the ecology of the tank and its precincts. Ravikumar argued that the desilting work being undertaken now at the lake sounds the death knell for the tank as the water level will now start receding. Poornayya Nala, the feeder canal to the lake, has already been blocked with the development of the various layouts and the sewage water which was entering the tank from the Paduvarahalli side has been diverted. The need of the hour is to increase the inflow into the lake through a sewage treatment plant. Vice chancellor and the deputy commissioner had assured the delegation that immediate steps would be taken to stop the desilting work.
