Protect/Save Mysore Lakes from development

Pl click view whole petition to view photos-Update:Mon, Jan 12,2009 12:25
Pl Watch Full Screen Videos of Kukkarahalli Kere/Lake 04:50 & 00:30 mins
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dXmow3TumJU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bwuwe0cjwGc&feature=related

Kukkarahalli Kere / Lake

http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/savemysorelakes/

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/Kukkarahally_lake_Mysore.JPG


Karanji Kere / Lake

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/32/Karanji_lake_pic.jpg/800px-Karanji_lake_pic.jpg


Kukkarahalli Kere/Lake walk / jog path

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d7/Kukkarahally_lake_jog_path_Mysore.JPG


Swans in the aviary at Karanji Kere / Lake

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/7/78/Karanji_swans.jpg


Peacock in the aviary at Karanji Kere / Lake

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/5/52/Karanji_peacock.jpg

http://www.hindu.com/2008/07/23/stories/2008072350320200.htm

'Protect lake, don't develop it': The Hindu Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008

PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Needs care: A view of the Kukkarahalli Lake in Mysore.-

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/06/02/stories/2008060252650300.htm

Migratory birds have arrived here in large numbers: The Hindu Monday, Jun 02, 2008

- PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM The Hindu Monday, Jun 02, 2008

Drawing Tourists: The 'walk-through aviary' at the Karanji Lake Nature Park in Mysore offers a visual treat for bird lovers.

http://www.deccanherald.com/CONTENT/May22008/realty2008050165745.asp

Deccan Herald Friday, May 02, 2008

Old Mysore City had its own intrinsic energy with lakes and gardens spread across and around the city and the vast green zones earmarked as gardens.

Mysore can retain its original beauty and peace through proper town planning, traffic flow, community development, ecological balance, increase of greenery, maintaining lakes in order.

http://www.thehindu.com/2007/01/05/stories/2007010514940200.htm

Are you ready for a bird count? Here's an opportunity for birdwatchers: The Hindu Friday, Jan 05, 2007

JOINT EFFORT: The group, Mysore Amateur Naturalists, has sought volunteers for the census. PHOTO: The Hindu Friday, Jan 05, 2007

In Mysore, Kukkarahalli, Karanji and Lingambudhi lakes have been identified as being important wetland sites for birds.

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/22/stories/2006032215810200.htm

Kukkarahalli Lake turning into a picture of neglect: The Hindu Wednesday, Mar 22, 2006

Giant fish were found floating dead on Tuesday, March 21, 2006

The water body has a high level of turbidity

Algae formation continues unabated

Untreated sewage continues to flow into the lake

http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/30/stories/2006013007650500.htm

Winged visitors flock to Mysore: The Hindu Monday, Jan 30, 2006

WELCOME VISITOR: A pelican at a lake in Mysore PHOTO: The Hindu Monday, Jan 30, 2006

http://www.hindu.com/2005/04/29/stories/2005042913260300.htm

Popularity turns a bane for Kukkarahalli lake: The Hindu Friday, Apr 29, 2005

Human-induced disturbance affects birds

Spread over 58 hectares, the lake harboured nearly 200 species of birds

At least 10,000 to 15,000 used to be found during winter, the number has come down to 2,000

31 species of birds used to breed in the lake but they have not been found

Construction of bund has disturbed ecosystem


WHERE HAVE THE BIRDS GONE? The picturesque Kukkarahalli lake in Mysore has witnessed a decline in the number of birds . - PHOTO: M.A. Sriram: The Hindu Friday, Apr 29, 2005

http://www.hindu.com/2005/03/10/stories/2005031005270300.htm

Three lakes of Mysore on Important Bird Area Network (IBAN) list: The Hindu Thursday, Mar 10, 2005

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2004/06/06/stories/2004060606860300.htm

India's largest aviary coming up in Mysore: The Hindu Sunday, Jun 06, 2004


Two butterflies sitting pretty at the butterfly park in Mysore. - The Hindu Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2003/05/08/stories/2003050803430300.htm

Dalvoy Lake to be developed as tourist centre: The Hindu Thursday, May 08, 2003

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/35004047.cms

Birds back in hordes at Karanji lake 21 Jan 2003, 0045 hrs IST, TNN (Times News Network), The Times of India

http://www.hinduonnet.com/2002/02/02/stories/2002020200790300.htm

Preserving lakes, a tough task in Mysore: The Hindu Saturday, Feb 02, 2002

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/239125232.cms

Rs 6 crore for developing Mysore lakes -- landscape, gardens and all that jazz -- as "recreation destinations": The Times of India 22 Aug 2001, 2243 hrs IST, TNN

The Hindu Wednesday, Jul 23, 2008

The Kukkarahalli Lake which, along with the Chamundi Hills and Karanji Lake, is reckoned to be nature's gift to the city. More than the funding, it is lake management and an ecological approach to its conservation that should be stressed upon.

In government parlance, the concept of "development" - be it the Chamundi Hills or a lake - has till now entailed just construction of an edifice, making new pathways by destroying the existing vegetation, creating "facilities" for the people, which invariably means destroying the surrounding green cover.

This was evident in the recent pre-budget meeting for the development of Mysore, when speaker after speaker " all politicians " stressed the need for having a -green belt- around Mysore.

But, in the same breath, they went on to add that the Chamundi Hills be "developed" and a ropeway project be initiated to get there, while another sought a botanical garden in Mysore on the lines of the Lal Bagh in Bangalore.

Nothing wrong with the demands, except for their failure to make a strong case for the "protection" of the Chamundi Hills and the lakes of Mysore.

This, is the bane of the city where a natural forest like the Chamundi Hills and the Kukkarahalli Lake are sacrificed at the altar of "development" and destroyed, so that projects, which do no good for society, and are a drain on the State's resources, are promoted.

The main question is why cannot the Kukkarahalli Lake and the Chamundi Hills be protected instead of being developed?

The Hindu Monday, Jun 02, 2008

Karanji Lake/Kere has India's biggest "walk-through aviary".

Pelicans and cormorants that have descended here find the Karanji lake environs a perfect place to roost, nestle and breed.

Besides pelicans and cormorants, egrets, herons, ibis and sunbird can also be found in the Karanji lake environs.

The Hindu Wednesday, March 22, 2006

On Wednesday March 22, 2006 giant fish were found floating dead in the Kukkarahalli lake, and the water body continues to maintain a high level of turbidity.

Algae formation continues unabated and untreated sewage continues to flow into the lake undoing all the beautification work carried three years ago (in 2003) with funding from the Asian Development Bank.

Unless sewage is diverted and encroachments along the feeder channel removed there can be no future for the lake.

While the administration of Kukkarahalli Lake is vested with the University of Mysore, the sewage diversion comes under the civic bodies Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and Mysore Urban Development Authority.

More than Rs. 90 lakhs was spent on reviving the Kukkarahalli lake. Why was it not used to clear encroachments and divert sewage?

The Hindu Monday, Jan 30, 2006

The first pelican in Mysore was sighted at Kukkarahalli Lake during 1992.

Following years of drought and lack of sufficient quantity of fish in the lakes in and around Mysore, the pelican numbers dwindled between 1997 and 2003.

Between 12 and 20 active nests have been identified in Kukkarahalli Lake, while there are around 22 active nests in Karanji Lake.

Both the lakes had witnessed a flurry of activity following good rainfall in 2005.

However, the birds had not arrived in Lingambudhi lake in the city between 2004-2006.

The availability of fish in abundance at the revived Karanji lake in 2006 provided an ideal nesting ground for the pelicans.

The lake has witnessned the arrival of a good number of birds and the emergence of pelican colonies.

However, the same is untrue with Kukkarahalli lake.

The Hindu Friday, Apr 29, 2005

The growing popularity of Kukkarahalli lake among morning walkers and the increase in human-induced disturbance has affected the bird population of the lake whose numbers has seen a steep decline in recent times w.e.f. 2005.

The picturesque Kukkarahalli lake, provides the much-needed lung-space to the city.

The lake is spread over 58 hectares with a shoreline of roughly five kilometres and harboured nearly 200 species of birds.

It was common to find at least 10,000 to 15,000 of them at any given point of time during winter when a large number of migratory birds used to come and roost in the lake.

But it is no longer the case and it is difficult to count even 2,000 birds at any given point of time.

What has disturbed the ecosystem is the construction of a bund that hugs the shoreline like a ribbon and cuts across from the western bank to the eastern portion to facilitate the public to take a walk.

The geophysical composition of the lakeshore was badly damaged and the depth of the lakebed was altered.

As a result, there are no more wading birds, which prefer shallow depth and these birds have migrated to other water bodies.

There's been a steady drop in the bird population and it is unlikely that the birds will return as the fragile habitat that supports such species has been disturbed during conservation work.

In the meantime, the number of people who visit the Kukkarahalli Lake has increased.

31 species of birds used to breed in the lake but they have not been found since the lake became popular among the public.

The only birds which are breeding are those in the bird islands which are relatively isolated and free from human presence.

In 2005 only 80 pairs of spotbilled pelicans were seen in the lake, which is a perfect breeding ground for species such as cormorant, painted storks, pelicans, open billed storks, spoon bills and night herons and darters, that used to breed in succession.

But the breeding pattern has been disturbed and many of these birds have not been observed during the recent census in 2005.

Of the nearly 180 birds recorded during a survey conducted in 2001, it is reckoned that there are only 103 species in the lake but their number is declining w.e.f. 2005.

The Hindu Thursday, Mar 10, 2005

Three lakes in Mysore figure in the list of important wetlands of the State and have been classified under Important Bird Area Network (IBAN) as priority site for conservation by Birdlife International of U.K.

Spread over 100 countries, Birdlife International has included Kukkarahalli, Karanji and Lingambudhi lakes in Mysore in the list of 38 important conservation sites in the State.

It may be a matter of pride for Mysore that there are three major wetlands in the heart of the city harbouring biodiversity and a rich variety of birds attracting international attention.

But no wetland in Mysore, or for that matter anywhere in India, is free from threats of human interference.

While international agencies are looking at conservation of wetlands to save birds, the scenario in India presents a gloomy picture calling for urgent remedial action and the lakes of Mysore are not an exception to this.

At Kukkarahalli, the construction of a new bund along the shore of the water body has disturbed the habitat and the migratory birds have depleted in numbers.

A preliminary winter waterfowl census shows that of the 66 species of birds observed in 2004, only 28 were listed in 2005 due to human presence.

Although MAN and other NGOs cautioned against construction of the new walkway or a bund near the bird islands in the lake, the authorities persisted with it leading to mass migration of birds.

The Lingambudhi Lake harbours over 200 species of birds during monsoon but is facing threats because of encroachment and human interference calling for remedial action.

The Hindu Sunday, Jun 06, 2004

The Karanji Kere/Lake island was bereft of vegetation or butterflies till Jun 2004 as the inflow of sewage from Siddharthanagar / Siddarthanagar and polluted water from the Mysore Milk Dairy had rendered the lake unfit for any form of aquatic life.

The Karanji Lake, which is located adjoining the Mysore zoo, is spread across 60 acres while the foreshore is spread across 80 acres.

The lake is teeming with birds including painted storks and grey pelicans.

Karanji Kere/Lake was revived with a funding of Rs. 91 lakh from the Asian Development Bank.

The Hindu Thursday, May 08, 2003

The Dalvoy lake, with an area of 250 acres, is one of the biggest water bodies in the city.

There are plans to reserve only 10 per cent of the area for fisheries, and the rest for tourism and recreation.

It is said that the centre would have aqua sports facilities among others.

The Times of India 21 Jan 2003

After a prolonged absence, winged beauties were back at the Karanji lake in 2003.

These birds had avoided this Karanji Kere/Lake till as the water in the lake was contaminated by sewage let off from the surrounding areas and also because of rapid urbanisation around the lake.

A majority of the birds are aquatic.

They will build nest only where they can find food sufficiently.

The Hindu Saturday, Feb 02, 2002

The importance of wetlands and their relevance had been lost on the urban population where it had been grossly mismanaged and reduced to bodies that receive industrial waste and domestic sewage.

The destruction of the water bodies or the wetlands breaks the natural cycle entailing groundwater recharge, flood control, recycling of nutrients, pollution control, and housing endangered species.

A series of disasters had struck the water bodies in Mysore which led to death of birds in Lingambudhi Lake, fish kill in Yennehole and Kukkarahalli in 2001/2002.

The Times of India 22 Aug 2001, 2243 hrs IST, TNN

Moved by the recent large-scale fish kill and the state of two major lakes in the district, the empowered committee of the government under the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development project decided to release Rs 6 crore.

The lakes will be done up -- landscape, gardens and all that jazz -- as "recreation destinations".

Mysore University will be the implementing agency for Kukkarahalli Lake, Forest Department for Lingambudhi Lake, Mysore Zoo authorities for Karanji Lake, Minor Irrigation Department for Devanoor and Dalvoy lakes.

Tenders will be called for taking up dredging and de-weeding, fencing and civil and landscape works.

The main question is why cannot the Kukkarahalli Kere/Lake, Karanji Kere/Lake, Lingambudhi Lake and the Chamundi Hills be protected instead of being developed?

More than Rs. 90 lakhs was spent on reviving the Kukkarahalli lake. Why was it not used to clear encroachments and divert sewage?

PCCF's Recommendations to the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court

The following recommendations / report were / was given/submitted to the Hon'ble Karnataka High Court on Monday, June 23, 2008 by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests or PCCF Karnataka Forest Department w.r.t. to undeveloped Bangalore's / Bengaluru's lakes is applicable to Mysore lakes too.

Bangalore / Bengaluru lakes that have not yet been developed "are well worth declaring as nature or bird preserves.

Nature/Bird Preserves

These bird preserves will be a tourist attraction and will serve as "a shining example of ecologically-wise integration of civic interest and biodiversity," the report adds.

'Habitats destroyed'

During development of a Bangalore / Bengaluru lake dredged material has piled on the lake margin to extend the land margin, thereby damaging the shoreline vegetation which is critical wildlife habitat leaving have no habitat left for water birds.

'No food courts'

Referring to food courts, boating and other recreational facilities, the report recommends / said that "none of these commercial and tourism activities (should) be envisaged in the 'development' plans".

While "commercial activity should be avoided completely", the department has recommended "a modest entry fee" to make up the cost of maintenance.

"No further structures, buildings and lighting need be contemplated, apart from minimal facilities at the entrance for the gate, regulatory entry and exit, watchman's shed, plant nursery and security," says the report.