HUBBALLI: Amid the patriotic fervour over the celebration of 75 years of Indian Independence, and although many ostentatious events have rightly caught the nation’s attention, many conscientious officials are toiling away to add to the glory of the event. Officials and staff of the Dharwad zilla panchayat (ZP) are among those who are endeavouring to boost sustainable development in the district. As part of the central government’s Amrit Sarovar Mission, 75 old lakes across Dharwad district are being revived, which will help ensure adequate supply of water for irrigation.
The lakes are being revived using funds allocated to the ZP by firms under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS), et al. ZP officials said that 15 lakes in the district would have been rejuvenated by August 15. Among others, those who participated in the freedom struggle, members of martyrs’ families, prominent citizens and locals, have been roped in for the task. The National Flag is set to be unfurled in every lake that has been revived under this initiative on August 15.
Of the 75 lakes identified for rejuvenation, 16 are in Dharwad taluk, 14 in Hubballi Rural and as many in Kundagol, 12 in Kalghatagi, 10 in Navalgund, five in Alnavar and three in Annigeri. Rejuvenation of these bodies of water entails desilting, unclogging the inlets and outlets, reforestation of the premises, erecting boards and securing the lakes.
Dharwad ZP chief executive officer Suresh Itnal pointed out that the Prime Minister himself had given the call for the revival of old lakes in all districts. “Revival of each of the 75 lakes is being undertaken at an estimated cost of Rs 30 lakh. We are using funds from MGNREGS and other sources for this project. The lakes we are reviving now will be unveiled in a new avatar once we complete our work,” Itnal told TOI.
Kundagol taluk panchayat development officer Mahesh Kuriyawar said that work on three of the 14 lakes in the taluk being revived would be completed before Independence Day. “We are planting saplings around the lake, desilting the beds, and building steps among other things,” he said.
Once revived, the lakes will serve as spots of leisure for people across the district, while the greenery around the bodies of water will help increase oxygen content in the neighbourhood. Furthermore, once revived, the lakes will give a huge boost to the irrigation of the surrounding fields, as long as efforts are made to ensure they are replenished regularly.
