Kukkarahalli tank not as it was
One thing is true the Kukkarahalli Tank, one of the surviving lakes of Mysore is not as it was a few years ago. The cool breeze, chirping of winged visitors and a clean atmosphere are missing. Already, several trees are cut to pave way for coming up of another building just besides the tank, behind Rangayana staff quarters.
For residents of Saraswathipuram and surrounding areas, Kukkarahalli Tank area is the best place to burn their calories. Hundreds of people come here early in the morning to jog, walk and to spend a few hours amid nature. But whether this tank has preserved its original grandeur is a million dollar question.
Once upon a time, the stone benches on the tank bed used to be a favourite spot for love birds. They used to bunk classes and spend sometime with their special ones.
However, now the entry is banned for love birds because of some unsavoury incidents in the past.
Now instead of clean air, tepid smell welcomes as soon as one enters premises of the tank. The peaceful atmosphere is disturbed with sound of constant honking of vehicles on both Hunsur Road and Kukkarahalli Tank Road.
The work of cleaning the tank is half completed because leading to nauseating smell entering one’s lungs every time one inhales. The plastic bottles, carry bags and other kinds of garbage are found aplenty along corners of the tank. There is lush growth of hyacinth on all sides of the tank thus posing a grave threat for water bodies. The boats, used to clean the tank are anchored haphazardly, with no sign of using them again.
Some of the boats are waterlogged and left in ‘as is where is’ condition in the corner of the tank.
The authorities of University of Mysore are either hastening the work of cleaning or shelving the attempt to clean the tank. It is not known why cleaning works have come to a standstill. All said and done, the tank water is not at all suitable for human consumption thanks to untreated sewage water that has been entering the tank from nearby areas.
Even natural flow of rain water seems to have been blocked at several places. The UoM, which is supposed to maintain the tank, is delaying in reviving this beautiful tank. In fact, the university has prepared a master plan for revival of this tank but it is being delayed due to one or the other reasons. The State government has already given Rs One crore to revive the tank.
Recently, Deputy Commissioner Harsh Gupta visited the tank area and also saw the blueprint prepared by the university authorities in this direction. Unfortunately, it is still in the initial stages with no sign of moving further.
Once, this tank had hundreds of trees which was providing shade and cool breeze even during the harsh summer. Several trees are cut on one side of the tank to construct a building for the proposed Science Centre.
Of course, the authorities have agreed to plant hundreds of trees where eucalyptus and other trees have been cut. But the question here is whether the trees on other sides of the tank will be there?
The local environmentalists opine that there was a error in judgement at the time of finalising the location for the proposed Science Centre.
They say that Kukkarahalli Tank area is not at all suited for the centre from the environment angle.
Already, the university has constructed Academic Staff College on one side of the tank and the Science Centre is coming up just in the opposite and done the survival of the Kukkarahalli Tank is solely in the hands of the university authorities.
Ultimately, it is up to the varsity to decide what they want-whether tank or concrete buildings?