Nearly 400 lakes to be revived in Chamarajanagar

MYSURU: The Chamarajanagar administration has taken up a major drive for the conservation of all 395 lakes in the border district.
Of the 395 water bodies, about 199 are encroached upon. Taluk and district-level task force committees headed by the deputy commissioner have taken up a special drive to clear encroachments twice a month.
Deputy commissioner MR Ravi told TOI that instructions had been given to local panchayat development officers in all gram panchayats and revenue and micro irrigation departments to clear encroachments on priority as the state government has given clear-cut orders to clear them.
Officials have already cleared encroachments in about 100 lakes and initiated the process to recover the land in the remaining 99 water bodies by this year. While encroachments have been cleared in 47 lakes, it is followed by 27 in Gundlupet, 13 in Chamarajanagar, nine in Hunsur and four in Yelandur taluks.
“Officials must conduct the drive on every second and fourth Saturday of the month. They must also hand over the reports to the department concerned after surveying and marking the boundaries”, said Ravi.
“The state and Central governments have given special focus for conservation and restoration of all lakes to tackle water crisis and make several villages drought free in coming year years,” he added.
“District minister Sureshkumar too has given clear orders for the revival of lakes under Jalamrutha and Jaladhare schemes. A freshwater source is a boon to the people living around it as well as the flora and fauna. It is key for recharging groundwater table, recreational activity and tourism in an area, and Chamarajanagar district, which is deprived of much irrigation facilities,” he said.