The Hindu : Karnataka News : Chitradurga’s lakes full of silt

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Karnataka

Karnataka

Chitradurga’s lakes full of silt

Firoz Rozindar

Encroachment, lack of maintenance contribute to decline in water-level

The lakes are important for groundwater recharge
Development of parks around lakes suggested

CHOKING: The Timmannanayakana lake in Chitradurga city.

Chitradurga: For decades, dozens of small and large ancient lakes located across Chitradurga city served as a source of water for the residents. Of these, the major lakes include the Mallapur lake, the Mathada lake, the Katral lake, the Gonur lake, the Chandravalli lake and the Timmannanayakana lake. However, these lakes lie unused and are filled with silt.

These lakes not only supplied water for daily use, but also kept the groundwater level stable. While the origins of some lakes remain unknown, others were built by the erstwhile kings and palegars (feudal lords) of the city.

Scholar K. Venkannachar said, “The lakes and ponds have remained an integral part of Chitradurga. The ancient rulers were aware of the fact that Chitradurga was a drought-prone area, and is not connected to any river. Hence, they built lakes wherever possible.

Lake sites were usually those places where rain water flowing down the hills converged. By building bunds across the storage areas, they found that they could reserve water for use throughout the year.”

However, over time, the water-levels of these magnificent lakes, built mainly on the basins of the Chinmuladri and Jogimaradi hills have been decreasing. Factors such as unchecked encroachment, lack of maintenance and construction of bunds and check dams across the rivulets have either contributed towards the decrease in water-levels or succeeded in polluting them.

One of the major reasons for abandoning these lakes was the commencement of the Vani Vilas Drinking Water Project. When people began receiving water from the Vani Vilas Sagar Dam, the dependency on these ancient lakes declined.

However, it has to be noted that these lakes could still recharge groundwater, Mr. Venkannachar said. The silt from the lakes should be removed, he said. He also suggests that these places could be used as picnic spots by developing parks around the lakes. “If no action is taken to preserve these lakes, they would soon turn into barren land,” he said.

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