Mysuru: The Heggere lake in Bannur Taluk of the Mysuru district is largest lake in the Taluk with area of 462 acres. But encroachment and silt obstruct storage of water in lake.
The water from KRS reservoir will be let through canal to fill the lake. Drinking water to Makanahalli, Madiganahalli, Bhugatahali, and Beedanahalli is being supplied from this lake. The lake also provides irrigation for paddy, maize, ragi and other crops. The lake provides irrigation to Horalahalli which is 18 kms away. The lake also provides water to 3600 acres of agriculture land.
Though it is largest lake in Taluk, more than 100 acres of lake was encroached by nearby land owners. Five years back, Bannur MLA Sunitha Veerappa Gowda instructed officers to survey lake and identify encroachment. Even officials prepared plan for desilting of lake. But after Sunitha got defeated, the work halted.
During 2017 when Dr. H. C. Mahadevappa was PWD Minister, walkers’ path was also laid and tiles were also fixed on the pathway. But now the tiles have come out and bushes are covering the lake.
Speaking to media persons, a villager Madihalli Somu told that more water can be stored in lake if silt is removed and encroachment is cleared. He urged authorities to take steps to save lake. Farmers Association President Bannur Narayan told that earlier illegal sand mining was going on in lake. Large ditches caused by mining affected ground water source. He urged the authorities to conduct survey immediately.
Thousands of people participate at Devi Teppotsava during Demadramba Devi annual car festival. Hence, local people are urging to develop the lake as a tourism spot. Cauvery Irrigation Corporation Limited (CICL) Assistant Engineer Manju S. Gowda told that the lake will be surveyed soon and encroachment will be cleared.
