Lake near Hassan catches fire, coconut trees destroyed

Fire broke out in Dodda Basavanahalli lake on the outskirts of Hassan city on Monday. Thick smoke from the lake triggered anxiety among locals residents.

It is alleged that a unit of Hindustan Petroleum Company Limited (HPCL) situated nearby has been releasing crude oil directly into the lake. This is said to be the cause for the fire. It is suspected that the stagnant crude oil in the lake might have started burning all of a sudden due to the summer heat.

It is said that a minor fire was noticed in the lake on Sunday. The fire started to engulf the lake, emitting thick smoke, grabbing public attention on Monday. Coconut trees in the vicinity of the water body were destroyed in the fire.

Manjegowda, a resident of Dodda Basavanahalli, said the lake was polluted due to the release of crude oil into it and the water also smells of petrol and diesel. Several appeals made by the villagers to the district administration to take action against the HPCL have fallen on deaf ears, he complained. There are also incidents of cattle death due to consumption of the polluted water from the lake, he claimed.