“Looking at the dam brimming with water, we had thought that we could grow crops in summer. But look at it now, the entire dam is empty. Just like our crops, our lives too have been washed away…” - these were the rueful words of a farmer, who was sitting on the bund of the reservoir, looking at damaged crops.

The water that broke open the dam, a day before the 60th year of Indian independence, turned out to be a Tsunami to the farmers of this region.

On receiving a phone call that night, saying that the Chiggalli dam had been broken, the controversial three islands of Chiggalli immediately came to my mind. However, it was for the first time that I had heard the name of the reservoir. Moreover, the next day, when Mr Bheemanna Nayaka asked some of the media professionals to accompany him on his visit to the reservoir, some of us decided to go.

We were stopped on the Sirsi-Hubli road in Kathur by the police who warned us that the vehicle would not go further. Brushing the warning aside, we proceeded further, only to see a large gathering of people near the reservoir. Everything was is a state of ruins. The bridge that was built during the times of the British was completely damaged. Everywhere one looked, there were trees that were washed away by the force of water.

The nursery next to the reservoir was completely damaged and the BSNL staff had their hands full. The force with which the dam had burst open could be imagined by taking a look at the watermarks on trees nearby. “Water had been flowing fiercely right from seven in the evening till midnight,” said a person at the site. One could only imagine the extent of devastation.

From the Chiggalli Cross, heading towards the reservoir, one could spot a stream of people also heading towards the reservoir. Already present at the spot were the representatives of people, mouthing sympathies and consoling distraught farmers. A man was folding a fish net in the reservoir that was now completely emptied. On to the right of the reservoir, one could only see a once beautiful expanse of paddy field, now reduced to a stretch replete with stones. It was a heart wrenching sight.

It was equally depressing to witness the plight of farmers who had lost their crops to the fury of water. Affected farmers looked so lost that they were unable to take their eyes off their fields, completely swept away by the reservoir water. Some farmers were even seen telling their woes to the representatives of people.

According to sources, the water that gushed out of the reservoir not only swept away all the crops in the 500-acre area in its path, but also washed away 4 to 5 pairs of cattle. It seemed like the proverb "Kumbaranige varusha, donnege nimisha" had turned true.

Freedom before midnight!
Moreover, the fishes that were deposited in the reservoir by the Bhavani Fisheries Association of Bommanahalli village, Haveri taluk were all freed a day before the Independence Day itself!

Each fish was weighing nearly 4 to 5 kg. The livelihood of 50 families that were dependent on these fishes was washed away in the waters, which silently swept away their only source of income.

The Chiggalli reservoir that was built 34 years ago to facilitate farmers to grow crops during summer, had now proved to be a nightmare in the lives of the same farmers who were dependent on it.

The Chiggalli reservoir, built over 186 hectare of land, was full for the second time, owing to copious rains. Though the reservoir had the capacity to withstand another meter of water, it gave way because of an old crack in the dam. It took the officials of the Minor Irrigation Department a disaster of this magnitude to wake up to the fact that a small crack could lead to such a major disaster.

There are several such reservoirs at Mundagodu in Northern Karnataka like Dharma, Atthiveri, Bachanaki, Singanalli and Ramapura that are in need of immediate maintenance.

In order to prevent another Chiggalli disaster, the officials concerned should rise to the situation and act immediately to contain another avoidable disaster in the future.
Translated by R S Ranjeetha Urs