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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