Mysuru: After people started opposing desilting work undertaken at Kukkarahalli Lake by the district administration and University of Mysore, Deputy Commissioner D Randeep on Thursday temporarily suspended all the ongoing work at the lake.
During the ground work to desilt Kukkarahalli Lake, the protesters claimed that this was not the right time to desilt the lake as it would cause irreversible damage to the water bodies. Apart from desilting the lake, as part of the project there were also plans to construct toilets, entry arches and shelters at the tank bund which the protesters feel that if these proposed projects are undertaken the green cover will come down in the lake.
The activists launched a signature campaign at the lake on Wednesday. Already more than 2500 people, majority of them regular walkers at the lake have signed against the ongoing desilting and other projects which are being undertaken at a cost of Rs 3 Crore. The protestors have also launched an online petition urging the DC to immediately stop desilting and deweeding in the interest of the lake. The protestors have also decided to stage an agitation in front of Deputy Commissioner’s Office on Tuesday.
D Randeep, Deputy Commissioner said, “This is for the first time I am seeing there is opposition for desilting. But due to opposition from the public I have told the contractor to temporarily suspend the work. For the proposed work, the Lake Development Authority had given approval and earlier the Deputy Commissioner’s Committee too had nodded for the project. Every part of the procedure was followed. But since people feel that desilting should not be done we will stop it. All the work has been temporarily suspended. Some signature campaign started and people are planning to protest on the street. If people don’t want it then we will not take it ahead.”
