The Hindu : Karnataka News : Gaddi Kere in Belgaum cries for help

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Tuesday, Nov 25, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka

Gaddi Kere in Belgaum cries for help

Vijaykumar Patil

Aggressive encroachment has reduced the lake to half its size

IN NEED OF ATTENTION: A borewell on the bed of Gaddi Kere in Belgaum indicates the level of encroachment that has been going in the recent years.

Gaddi Kere (Belgaum District): Gaddi Kere, a natural lake under Mugut Khan (M.K.) Hubli of Bailhongal taluk, is crying for help. However, the authorities concerned are apathetic to the need to develop the lake.

The Gaddi Kere is fast losing its identity as the largest lake in the district, because of the indiscriminate encroachments by farmers from the adjoining villages. The encroachment is so aggressive that a farmer has even drilled a borewell on the bed of the lake to draw water for his fields. Many others have taken up sugarcane and paddy cultivation all around it.

The M.K. Hubli Gram Panchayat president, Basappa Fakeerappa Jothagannavar, says that of the 135 acres and 38 guntas lake, nearly 80 acres has been encroached upon. That apart, there is silt formation.

Though it is not known when exactly the lake came into existence, a small wall of black stones and an outlet was constructed by the British in 1895. Another outlet was constructed, may be to supply water for drinking and irrigation in the past. Subsequently, a canal was constructed over a decade ago and the cement lining was done only a year ago. Yet, not even once the Minor Irrigation Department, which is responsible for maintenance and operation of the tank, has let water into the canal. The canal is now fully covered by wild weeds and has become invisible at several points, he said. Until recently, more than 2,000 acres of agriculture land in M.K. Hubli was getting water supply in the form of run-offs and overflow from the lake. However, due to the failure of rainfall and encroachment, only 500 acres of land is getting water. However, with the Government not bothering to listen to their woes, many farmers have sunk borewells to irrigate their fields.

Due to shrinkage in the lake-area and formation of silt, the water table is fast depleting with villagers being apprehensive that even borewells would go dry sooner or later if the silt and encroachment were not removed. The situation could deteriorate soon and the villagers may have to struggle for drinking water leave alone irrigating their agriculture land, says gram panchayat member Basavappa Shivarayappa Killedar.

He said the villagers have been submitting representations since 2002 to the district administration and the authorities concerned in vain. A fresh memorandum was submitted on November 14 this year to the Deputy Commissioner with a demand to remove encroachments. The villagers even warned the administration that they would launch a hunger strike if the Government continues to ignore the demands.

V.V. Patil, a resident, says that the villagers do not want the Government to provide irrigation facilities from the lake. However, it can remove encroachments and silt so that water table is maintained and borewells continue to yield water.

Due to poor rainfall till 2005-06, the lake was never full. Since there was good rainfall this year, one could see some water in it.

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