CM to launch lake filling project for silt-laden water body today

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will launch the ambitious lake filling project on Friday. The lake is expected to quench the thirst of 59 villages. The district administration, however, has failed to take measures to take up desilting of lakes here.

The 24 lakes, which fall under the project, have not been desilted for decades. The project covers two lakes in Nanjangud taluk, 21 in Chamarajanagar taluk and one in Yalandur taluk. As per details available from the department of Water Resources, the total capacity of the lakes will be 683.8 Million Cubic Feet (MCFT).

If the lakes are filled it is expected to recharge water table. With silt deposits, the capacity of the lakes may be reduced, an official said. The project, which was scheduled to be launched on February 14, was postponed due to the sudden demise of district in-charge minister H S Mahadeva Prasad. Though the project was given an official nod, no steps had been taken for desilting.

The Ummathuru lake, where Siddaramaiah will launch the project, measures 250 acres and has a storage capacity of 62.70 MCFT water. A large portion of the lake is, however, covered by thorny bushes. A small percentage of bushes have been removed from the lake to facilitate the programme.

A resident of the village said, “I have not seen the lake being desilted in recent times,” he said.

When contacted, MP R Dhruvanarayan said that desilting works in lakes and laying of pipelines for the project would be started simultaneously. Tenders have been invited for the works, he added.