Taking a cue from the fate of waterbodies in Bengaluru frothing due to pollution, residents of Mysuru have intensified their campaign to conserve the Kukkarahalli lake and prevent its eutrophication.
The movement is emerging as a major struggle, akin to the one against the Chamalapura power plant, which was subsequently disbanded.
A protest has been planned in front of the DC’s office from 10.30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Tuesday.
Kukkarahalli kere, as it is popularly called, is a major biodiversity hotspot with over 175 species of birds that nestle in its precincts. It is managed by the University of Mysore, located between the Manasagangotri campus and the Crawford Hall.
“But in the current scheme of things the lake is being mismanaged by the authorities,” say environmentalists who have taken to social media and launched an online petition to save the lake.
An photo exhibition depicting the biodiversity of the lake is on display at the main entrance and is drawing public attention and support to the agitation. For Mysureans, the lake has en emotional connect just as the Chamundi Hills.
The lake has a spread of nearly 80 acres with a shore length of 5 km and acts as a major lung space for Mysuru.
The crux of the issue revolves around the ₹3 crore ‘development works’ launched by the authorities but, reportedly, without taking the stakeholders into confidence. The work entails removing silt besides fixing an e-water harmoniser system, providing and constructing a boating jetty among others.
The main argument of environmentalists like U.N. Ravikumar is that the lake will dry up in the absence of fresh water inflow.
Besides, the sewage too was being diverted and hence the water level in the lake was depleting.
The water spread is already down to 4 sq km and the lake’s water holding capacity will further come down and reduce it to a seasonal lake, argued Mr. Ravikumar.
The lake has witnessed number of interventions under the guise of “development” in recent years which are all human-centric but without considering the ecological requirements of the birds, say activists.
