JOIN USMusical fountain to come up at Kukkarahalli lake
Kukkarahalli Lake, the water body located in the heart of the city, is all set to become a tourist spot, with its custodian, the University of Mysore, planning to give it a facelift at an estimated cost of Rs 1.5 crore.
A musical fountain, along with jet fountains, on the lines of Brindavan Gardens at the neighbouring KRS reservoir in Mandya district, is planned as a part of the centenary celebrations of the university that will turn 100 in 2016.
The musical fountain will be an added attraction to the city, after Kuppanna Park, near Hardinge Circle, where the fountain was installed using a part of the funds under the chief minister’s special grant of Rs 100 crore.
Executive Engineer of the engineering section at the varsity, Kishore Chandra, told Deccan Herald, it has been planned to give a fresh look to the water body, with the focus on attracting tourists. The musical fountain, also called dancing fountain, with water twirling according to the music, will be built at Kuvempu Vana, close to the main entrance to the lake. It will be a 800-metre long structure.
Jet fountains will be another attraction, with plans made to install at least four fountains in the middle of the water body. Two of them will be 100-foot tall while the remaining two will be half of them, between 50-foot and 60-foot. Lights emitting different colours will illuminate the fountains, to give them a different look, especially after dusk, the engineer added.
Apart from attracting tourists, the fountains will act as an oxidation tool. Because of the weeds, shrubs and water hyacinth coupled with sewage water that was earlier flowing into the lake in abundance, there is no oxygen in the water. As a result, fishes are dying in large numbers. The fountains will shoot water to a certain height with a greater speed, that helps in generating oxygen after mixing with air.
In addition to this, boards having information on local and migratory birds in the lake will be put up for the benefit of visitors. Eventually, plans are on to resume boating services in the lake, to cater to tourists. Besides, works on removing weeds and shrubs is being taken up on a bigger level.
The engineer said, tenders have been invited and the works are expected to be taken up soon, which are expected to complete by six months.
DH News Service