Karnataka   

Revived 15 years ago, this tank does not dry up during summer

NEW LOOK: The revived tank in front of Mahalingeshwara Ganapati temple at Alangar near Moodbidri.

MOODBIDRI: At a time when ancient tanks are disappearing in the name of urbanisation, an effort by local people here has paved the way for rejuvenation and survival of an ancient tank.

After the tank, in front of Mahalingeshwara Ganapati temple, Alangar, was revived a decade ago, the people in its vicinity have never seen it dry up.

Ishwar Bhat, managing trustee and chief priest at the temple, took the lead in reviving the tank in 1992-93.

“The civil work, including removal of silt in the tank and constructing stone walls on its four sides, was taken up by 1992-end and completed in about nine months,” Mr. Bhat told The Hindu.

Presenting a photo that showed the poor condition in which the tank existed before its revival during 1992-93, he said the tank used to dry up in late May and early June owing to the accumulation of silt in it. “It has not dried after revival. Removal of silt has also helped in re-charging the near-by open wells. It has helped 40 households,” he said.

The tank was revived from contributions from local people, Mr. Bhat’s family and a small grant released by the Government. “The Public Works Department gave an estimation of Rs. 1.18 crore for its revival. We have done it with Rs. 45 lakh. Of this, people contributed Rs. 8 lakh and the Government Rs. 1 lakh.” The rest, Mr. Bhat said, was contributed by his family.

“Initially, the cost of revival was estimated at Rs. 25 lakh. But it proved to be inadequate and ultimately cost us Rs. 45 lakh to complete the work,” he said.

After revival, the tank has been named “Manasa Gangotri” by the people.

“The tank is 45 ft deep. At present, there is 12 ft water in the tank as it happens to be the summer season,” said Mr. Bhat.

M. Ramachandra Achar, a retired junior engineer with the Government, and Amrith Malla, an Ayurvedic practitioner, who are natives of the town, confirmed that the tank had not dried after revival. They said, prior to renovation, the water level used to reach the bottom of the tank in May.

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