Reservoirs of hope

Kunigal: Thousands of farmers from villages around Kunigal, an arid region, are mainly dependant on decades old Markonahalli and Kunigal reservoirs for their irrigational needs.
No wonder, even the younger generation of farmers of these villages are known to revere the visionaries, Sir M Vishveshwaraiah and Magadi Kempegowda, who built these life sustaining reservoirs in the drought-prone Kunigal taluk.

Markonahalli reservoir has been the precious water source for irrigating over 6,000 hectares of land spread over villages around Kunigal. This reservoir was built in the year 1930 during the reign of Mysore Maharaja Sri Krishnaraja Wadiyar IV. The automatic siphon system dam designed by Sir M Vishewaraiah was built across Shimsha, one of the tributaries of River Cauvery.

Markonahalli dam is said to be a unique water resource management project as the reservoir has automatic siphon spillways, considered to be an efficient flood control system requiring no manual operations.
Kunigal Dodda Kere, built by Magadi Kempegowda, is the lifeline of the farmers surrounding the villages of Kottagere, Kunigal, Madakehalli, Muttagadahalli and many more backward villages of the taluk.
There is an age-old temple dedicated to Someshwara and Parvathi. The temple is beside the   Kunigal lake, famous for its folklores and puranic legends. Annual fairs are held during Shivarathri and Kartikamasa at this lake temple.