Fountains, parks to beautify twin cities

Fountains, parks to beautify twin cities

Vincent D'Souza, TNN | Mar 9, 2011, 10.48pm IST

HUBLI: If everything goes as per the plans of Hubli Dharwad Municipal Corporation, the twin cities will only look more beautiful in the coming days.

HDMC commissioner Dr K V Trilokchandra told TOI that it has been planned to build fountains in seven circles and two gardens of twin cities. Kittur Chennamma Circle, Court Circle and Ambedkar Circle in Hubli and KCD Circle and German Hospital Circle in Dharwad have been chosen to put up fountains. The gardens selected for the purpose are Basavana Vana in Hubli and Vivekananda Park in Dharwad.

He said the HDMC is considering carrying out the beautification work on Built Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis as some people who are presently maintaining medians have evinced interest in carrying out the task. "If not, we will go ahead with the project and call tenders within a month," said Trilokchandra.

He said each fountain will cost Rs 4 to 6 lakh and they are working on the design aspect. "We are contacting designers for the purpose. Different shapes and designs will be chosen for the fountains. The one that will come upat Court Circle will be triangle in shape. K C Circle will be the first where the fountain will come up," he said. At present there are no fountains in twin cities.

Dharwad's Kelgeri lake turns 100 today

Dharwad's Kelgeri lake turns 100 today

DHARWAD, March 4, 2011 Dinesh Nayak - The Hindu

 

The district administration has taken up a Rs. 5-crore scheme to renovate it

 

 

MANMADE TANK: A view of the Kelgeri lake in Dharwad. At right is a stone inscription that gives the date of the inauguration of the lake.

 

Kelgeri lake, known for its natural beauty and serene atmosphere, and is the legacy of Sir M. Visvesaraya, will turn 100 years on Friday. Nestled amidst idyllic surroundings, this 230-acre water body has played a key role in the development of Dharwad and has become an integral part of its culture and has been a source of inspiration for poets and writers of the land.

 

The lake was the brainchild of M. Visvesaraya, who built it to meet the drinking and irrigation water needs of Dharwad.

 

It was formally inaugurated on March 4, 1911 by the then collector of Dharwad district M.C. Gibbs.

 

Later, the lake has fulfilled the water needs of the citizens and farmers for several years till the city grew and Malaprabha Drinking Water Project began supplying the surface water to quench the thirst of the city people.

 

The lake was handed over to the University of Agricultural Sciences in 1983 and the university began using it to water its fields. The lake dried up in 2003 but later again filled up as there were good rains in 2004. The rich greenery in the surroundings of the lake attracts a good number of rare species of birds.

 

Although the lake is no longer used for watery needs, it is getting a facelift on the occasion of its centenary. It will soon get new look with new charm as a scheme to develop it into a tourist spot is under way.

 

Deputy Commissioner Darpan Jain said a Rs. 5-crore scheme to develop the loch into a lake park and a centre for water sports was executed and expected to complete shortly. It has become a popular weekend spot as people began coming here to enjoy some cool time.

 

The scheme has plans to introduce the boating and develop it into a centre for water sports.

 

It is one of the few lakes which has potential to be developed into a centre for water sports and it would be possible to conduct the State-level water sports event here once the scheme was completed, Mr. Jain said.

 

 

 

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•  The tank, built by Sir M. Visvesvaraya, was inaugurated on March 4, 1911
• The water body dried up once in 2003 during drought, but came alive next year  

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