Former ministers Mahadeva Prasad and Cheluvarayaswamy literally outdid each other in organising Jalapatothsavas at Gaganachukki and Bharachukki falls few months ago.
Mysore is busy with Dasara celebrations sans the State Government. An event that could have paid fitting tribute to the finest engineering wonder in the country has turned out to be ‘nobody’s child’ in the melee’.
Platinum jubilee of KRS or Krishnarajasagar reservoir, just few kilometres away from the cultural capital has been completely ignored by both officials and politicians.
Engineering marvel
This engineering marvel, which came into existence thanks to the farsightedness of Sir M Visvesvaraya during the time of Rajarshi Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar - the then Maharaja of Mysore - was commissioned in 1911. It was completed in 1932 - 33. Since then, the reservoir has been the lifeline of Mysore, Bangalore, Mandya among other areas.
It has irrigated lakhs of acres of agricultural land which were barren before the reservoir came into being.
KRS was built despite the objection raised by the then Madras Presidency Government against building the dam.
Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar successfully fought against Madras and went all out to start the construction work of the KRS dam near Kannambadi village of Srirangapatna taluk.
He pooled in funds through various resources, as well as by pledging his own gold ornaments. Thereafter, this dream project went into the hands of Diwan of Mysore State, Sir M Visveswaraya, who designed, engineered and executed it. Records say the total cost of the dam was Rs.2.40 crores. After the regime of Sir MV as Diwan, his successor Sir Mirza Ismail completed the work by 1932 - 33.
Vijaya Kumar, Executive Engineer of the Cauvery Neeravari Nigam of KRS sub division, which is now the care taking authority of the reservoir and the dam, said the dam is around 2.60 Km in length and 130 ft in height.
The water storage capacity is around 49 tmc (thousand million cubic) ft upto the maximum storage height of 124.80 ft. This reservoir is irrigating about 1.96 lakhs acres of agricultural land through its Visveswaraya canal and for about 1.20 lakh acres through Anicut canal. This has made Mandya and surrounding areas the sugar cane belt, yielding high returns. Apart from this, the dam is also an attractive tourist destination.
Filmy attraction
Most of the early Indian films have showcased the beauty of famous Brindavan Gardens, with a panoramic and picturesque view, complete with dancing fountains.
Due to security measures, public entry on to dam is now banned and alternative arrangements have been made from the north western end.
Very recently in the month of July, former chief minister H D Kumaraswamy offered baagina to the reservoir when the dam had filled up because of early monsoon.
