Rain gives fresh lease of life to lake

Rain gives fresh lease of life to lake
The Newindpress.com

Tuesday August 7 2007 13:16 IST
HUBLI: Baaro Sadankerige, the famous lyric penned by poet Dr D R Bendre still echoes in every person residing in Dharwad. Sadhanakeri Lake, the inspiration for Bendre, is brimming with water for the first time.

The lake was on the verge of extinction. This beautiful lake is also a habitat and breeding ground for migratory birds too. Lush green trees surround the lake. The chirping of birds add to the charm.

In rainy seasons the lake abounds in splendour. Now it is almost full with fresh water. ‘‘We never saw this lake this full. With more rains predicted this week, we expect more inflow,’’ said Kartik, a resident.

If the lake is de-silted, it may look more attractive, and lure tourists, says Bharat, another walker around this place. However, this historical lake faces a number of problems.

‘‘Nearby people dump garbage into the lake posing great threat to the water body. Public awareness needs to be created to save the lake,’’ said Smriti, a housewife.

‘‘We used to go to different far-off ponds or lakes to catch fish, but this time the lake is full with a variety of fish in it. We can sight other small aquatic species here,’’ said Shabuddin, a fisherman.

Citizens take road to insurance

Citizens take road to insurance
Deccan Herald News Service

Hubli:For the first time in the history of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), people of a residential area in Hubli have insured a road asphalted by the corporation a few months ago...

For the first time in the history of the Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC), people of a residential area in Hubli have insured a road asphalted by the corporation a few months ago.

The corporation had asphalted the Thimmasagara Temple Main Road under the Calamity Relief Fund (CRF). This road is an arterial road connecting PB Road to Unkal Hosur Road situated in the heart of Vidyanagar, which falls in Ward No 43 (Zonal No 9).

Subsequently, the residents came out with the novel of idea of insuring that stretch of road and approached the HDMC authorities.

Welcoming the residents’ initiative, Commissioner P Manivannan agreed to insure that road on behalf of the HDMC.

Later, the residents also got a no objection certificate (NoC) from the corporation and approached the Oriental Insurance Company, who insured the road for Rs 2 lakh with an annual premium of Rs 303. The residents contributed equally to pay the premium.

They felt the need to insure the newly asphalted road in order to reduce the burden of maintenance.

The total sum assured is Rs 2 lakh and in case of any claims for the damages mentioned in Standard Fire and Special perils policy schedule, the amount would be directly remitted to the HDMC account.

The people here opined that the corporation has helped them a lot in many things and it was also their duty to do something in return to help the civil body.

The residents are now planning to plant saplings on either sides of the road for further development.

No insurance would be paid if anybody digs up the road to lay water pipelines or for underground drainage system. The residents could claim insurance for any possible road damage caused due to pipeline burst. In such a situation, the insurance money would be deposited to the HDMC’s account from which the road can be rebuilt.