JOIN USA water pit 15 feet deep and full of water for the last eight months cannot technically exist barely 100 metres away from a 400-feet deep borewell that has already dried up. The residents of KG Halli in Malur taluk, however, beg to differ. Such a water pit is to be found near the Gram Panchayat office.
Malur taluk has received the least rain in Kolar district and agricultural activities have receded. In the midst of the intense drought and the rapid drying up of water sources as well as the menace of stone crushers in KG Halli, eight months of water supply in the pit is a wonder for the citizens.
Although the water from the pit was used for human consumption initially, it is now used for construction work.
In sharp contrast, two borewells in the village have already dried up and the areas are supplied water using tankers. One such borewell is just 100 metres away from the water pit and another at the Tekal Railway Station.
“Work was started on construction of the Om Shakti temple in the village in January this year. When a sump was dug for collection of water, a spring was found at barely five-feet. The workers dug further and when the pit was 15 feet deep, the quantity of water available made it difficult for them to continue digging. The water in the pit has not dried so far,” said panchayat development officer Mohan Kumar Gowda, in conversation with the Deccan Herald correspondent on Thursday.
The officer, however, felt the pit might be drawing water from the same source as the borewell in the neighbourhood.
“We had expected the water pit to dry up in a few weeks’ time, but were proven wrong. The water is probably being replenished continuously from a spring in a hill nearby.”
The source of water for the pit is still unknown, but the Panchayat will undertake a plan soon to protect it, said Mohan Kumar, Zilla Panchayat assistant project officer.
“The fact that the pit has not dried up even after eight months- although so many borewells have dried up within this timespan- is very important. The pit needs to be protected. The development officer has been instructed to consult the Mine and Geology Department on the matter,” he said.
“Funds have been reserved in the Zilla Panchayat for the protection and development of temple tanks in the district. The money can be used to construct a tank in place of the small pit,” said Kumar, adding that he would visit KG Halli and inspect the water pit.
Workers constructing the temple have expressed special delight in the discovery of a water source in the village struggling to cope with water shortage. They also felt the discovery of water, during the construction of a temple, was a lucky sign.