Ravi, a farmer in his late fifties, has called the city of Tumkur his home for his entire life. Here, in Kalpataru Nadu (the Land of Coconut Trees) – a fitting nickname for Tumkur – Ravi had nurtured horticultural crops like coconut, banana, mango, pomegranate and sapota.

He remembers a time when Hulikunte kere, a large lake spanning 13.3 acres, was giving life to his land. Tall coconut palms, swaying gently in the breeze, provided shade for the vibrant mango trees. Pomegranate and sapota trees bloomed brightly under the watchful gaze of Hulikunte kere. The life-giving water from the lake had nurtured his crops for generations, serving as a constant source of fertility and prosperity.

But that was before the silt looters came. Sand and silt were silently stolen from the lake bed at night, leaving behind an unlevelled terrain. With heavy machinery, organized gangs had looted silt and dug more than 10 ft in depth across the lake surface. Filled with anger and despair, Ravi shares a picture of how silt was excavated all over the place at Hulikunte kere.

The looters didn’t just steal silt but also stole the lifeline of Ravi and his family. As a result of improper extraction of silt, the lake had lost its water holding capacity, leading to water depletion. The once-fertile fields began to wither and the groundwater levels dropped. Ravi’s family and many others struggled to survive the unprecedented water crisis that led to a loss of their livelihood.

Although the above incident is fictional, it remains as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of environmental exploitation. It highlights the importance of protecting our natural resources and the communities that depend upon them.

ನೀರು ಉಳಿಸಿ ಜೀವ ಉಳಿಸಿ. ಜೀವನಾಧಾರವಾದ ನೈಸರ್ಗಿಕ ಸಂಪನ್ಮೂಲವಾಗಿರುವ ನೀರನ್ನು ಇತರ ಸರಕುಗಳಂತೆ ಸೃಷ್ಟಿಸಲಾಗುವುದಿಲ್ಲ. ನಿಸ್ಸಂಶಯವಾಗಿ, ಸರೋವರವು ಪಕ್ಷಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಮೀನುಗಳಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿದ್ದು ಅದು ನಮಗೆ ಸೇರಿದೆ.

Water as a life-sustaining natural resource cannot be created like other commodities. Certainly, the lake belongs to the birds and the fish as much as it belongs to us. With a deep understanding that water is essential to sustain all forms of life, we at E.F.I are striving hard to restore Hulikunte kere back to its former state.

For this purpose, a series of restoration activities are being carried out. The first step involves the removal of invasive weeds such as Prosopis juliflora and Ipomea carnea that have grown rampantly. To attain this, a total area of 4.6 acres around the lake’s periphery was deweeded.

Silt looting was a major problem that reduced the lake’s water retention capacity, robbing the land of its natural structure. With the help of machinery, the uneven lake bed was leveled thoroughly. This effort aims to provide structural stability to the lake and prevent silt build up on the lake bed. An offshore bund of 330 meters in length was strengthened to further enhance stability.

The excess silt was then utilized to construct three recharge pits in the center of the lake. Recharge pits are suitable for recharging shallow aquifers and are crucial to replenish groundwater levels. One among the three recharge pits also contain a nesting island that acts as a biodiversity hotspot for aviary and territorial species to thrive upon.

Additionally, dead trees, branches and root masses were found on the lake bed of Hulikunte kere which was collected and repurposed into snags. Snags are a crucial habitat for aquatic life, especially native fish. They provide fish with a site to attach adhesive eggs while breeding and serve as a shelter from predators. They are also landmarks to define territories and aid navigation.

Outer fencing on the lake’s periphery has been established to prevent silt looting and to protect the lake’s boundary. Today, Hulikunte kere has become a thriving ecosystem and a life-giving lake that it once was.

Stay tuned in this space to witness how we #CareForKere and transform Karnataka and its water bodies. Read more about our previous works in and around Tumakuru.

#CareForKere, E.F.I’s Mega-Restoration of 10 Lakes In and Around Tumakuru

We’d love to hear your lake stories as well. Write to us @lakesofindia and tell us about the lakes and ponds in your vicinity.

Volunteer for India and her Environment with E.F.I