Treated Water to Finally Revive Karnataka's Kandavara Lake

September 19, 2017

The Kandavara Kere used to be the largest lake in the Chikkaballapur district at one time. Now, it's all covered up with weeds.

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The drought-prone Chikkaballapur district in Karnataka has suffered water scarcity for years. Kandavara Kere was once the largest lake in the district, but it is not what it used to be 22 years ago when it had water. Spread over 330 acres, the dried-up lake is full of weeds.

To resolve this, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah along with local MLA K Sudhakar, laid the foundation stone on Monday to rejuvenate the lake using treated sewage water from the Hebbal and Nagavara sewage treatment plants.

This rejuvenation programme is part of the second phase of the Hebbal – Nagawara valley project, in which 44 irrigation tanks will be revived in the Chikkaballapur district.

On Monday, they began with desilting the lake, which they hope to fill with water by December.

Sidlaghatta Kere in Chikkaballapur. Source: Flickr

“The water will flow into the lake from Bagalur via Jala Hobli. Desilting the lake is essential for the percolation of water through the gradients and increase the tank’s capacity. The farmers will not receive water directly. Once we allow percolation of water, the borewells will get recharged,” local MLA K. Sudhakar told The Hindu.

According to the publication, the estimated cost of the project is ₹970 crore. They will revive 22 tanks in the first phase and another 22 in the second. Meanwhile, the government will establish water purifying plants so that residents of the constituency can access potable water.