Tanks that served Uttara Kannada

KARWAR: The coast running through its length, the thick forests of the Western Ghats leading to the plains, the topography of Uttara Kannada is rich in variety. Kali, Sharavathi, Aghanashini are among some of the major rivers that flow through the district.
However, consecutive droughts have seen most of them drying up, and severe depletion in groundwater reserves in the past few years have added to the people's woes.However, the many dynasties that held sway over Uttara Kannada, from the Kadambas iof Banavasi and the Jain kings of Sonda, appear to have known the importance of conserving water in tanks.
In fact, the ponds and tanks that dot the Uttara Kannada district serve as vestiges of the many dynasties and kings who ruled the district. As early as the fourth century the Kadamba kings built a tank spread across 165 acres in Banavasi, the capital of his kingdom. These tanks served a twin purpose ­ water storage and recharging of groundwater reserves.
The Jain kings of Sonda continued the water conservation project in Uttara Kannada ­ the Kavadi Kere or Kavadi Lake in Yellapur, the Arthalav Kere in the heart of a forest near Karwar's Mudageri and Muttinakere in Sonde being some of their prominent creations. “The Jains constructed many temples and monasteries across the district during their reign, and each of these buildings had an adjoining lake or pond, which augmented the water supply to the entire district,“ said Surendra Bhat, a priest in Kumta.
Among the 300 lakes the district administration has earmarked for revival, many were the creations of these foresighted rulers, who used simple, yet effective methods to conserve water.
More recently, members of the Shiliga tribe built an enormous embankment to the Dabehalla Tank at Sirsi to dam rainwater in the waterbody.