Kukkarahalli Lake

Coordinates: 12°18′N 76°38′E / 12.3°N 76.63°E / 12.3; 76.63
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Kukkarahalli Lake
View of Kukkarahalli lake
Location of the lake within Karnataka
Location of the lake within Karnataka
Kukkarahalli Lake
LocationMysore
Coordinates12°18′N 76°38′E / 12.3°N 76.63°E / 12.3; 76.63
TypeFreshwater Kukkarahally- Recreational and Fisheries
Catchment area414 km2 (160 sq mi)
Basin countriesIndia
Surface area62 ha (150 acres)
Max. depth5 m (16 ft)
Water volume2.53×10^6 m3 (89×10^6 cu ft)
Shore length15 km (3.1 mi)
Surface elevation755.73 m (2,479.4 ft)
SettlementsMysore
1 Shore length is not a well-defined measure.

Kukkarahalli Lake also called Kukkarhalli Kere (Lake is ‘’kere’’ in local

Mummadi Krishnaraja Wodeyar (1794–1868) of the Mysore dynasty (Kingdom of Mysore) was responsible for getting the lake created, in the year 1864, to provide water for irrigation to about 4000 ha (10,000 acres) of land outside the city.[2] The Lake also used to be a source of water supply to the city of Mysore but over the years, sewage and excessive land encroachments (mostly illegal) and blockage of water flow sources almost led to the eutrophication of the lake. The University of Mysore and the citizen forums of Mysore continue to make efforts to preserve the lake by implementing several remedial measures.[3][4] There is a 3.5-km walkway on the periphery of the lake with shaded stone benches for visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the scenic serenity of the lake.[5]

Access

The lake is located within the Mysore city limits. The Mysore City railway station is about 3 km (1.9 mi) from the Lake.

Hydrology

The lake drains a catchment area of more than 414 square kilometres (160 sq mi) and the water body spreads over 62 hectares (150 acres). Dewan Poornaiah feeder canal, 27 km (17 mi) long, which passes through

Sandy loam to clay loam form the dominant geological condition of the Lake. On the northern side another temporary bund hold back the direct flow of waste water into the lake.[6]

Panoramic view of Kukkarahalli Lake in Mysore

The highest flood level in the lake is 755.73 m (2,479.4 ft).[7]

Water quality

A detailed study of the physico-chemical and bio-chemical parameters of the lake waters carried out in the period 1981-2001 confirmed the deteriorating status of the lake necessitating action for restoration. There was a high percentage of chemicals but low percentage of total plankton (43%). The activity of chemicals lead to the liberation of extra quantity of cellular products which increased to 53.19%. Lake indicated high productivity of bio-chemical products; with death and decay of algal blooms adding to the biochemical concentration. The lake waters showed high

microorganisms
present in the sample per litre.

Parameters Kukkarahalli

Lake

Year / group 1981 1991 2001
Chlorococcales 35,3251 54,2210 43,8342
Desmids 150 Nil 7
Diatoms 5,822 5,132 6,173
Blue-greens 24,325 23,420 20,719
Euglenoids 8,321 3,251 6,577
Dinoflagellates 210 622 174

Utility of algal biomass

Scientists have reported that exploitation of polluted waters which are rich in

fluorescent dye, as immunochemical reagent and also as efficient fluorochromes in multiple colour analysis.[7][8]

Bird watching

Night heron illustration

The lake was once a big attraction to bird watchers. According to naturalists, about 176

roost. Organised bird watching expeditions around the lake used to be actively pursued by the Mysore Amateur Naturalists (MAN) Association. In recent years, with the lake getting into a eutrophic state (though since restored), the number of birds visiting the lake has substantially decreased. Now, the number of birds visiting the lake has reduced to about 2,000. They are found to breed in the isolated bird island. The birds now found in the lake (some of the birds are pictured in the gallery) are spot-billed pelicans, little cormorant, painted storks, openbill storks, Eurasian spoonbills, black-crowned night herons and Oriental darters.[4] BirdLife International has included Kukkarahalli Lake in the list of 38 important Important Bird Areas (IBAs)[10] in the State of Karnataka.[11]

Lake restoration

The jog path/walkway along the Kukkarahally Lake

During the year 2003–2004, with grants of about US$0.2 million (Rs 91 lakhs) provided by the

pollutants and the intervention of wastes into the lake ecosystem the measures implemented have covered the following [12] with funds provided by the Asian Development Bank.[13]

Bougainvillea flowers
  • Widening of the bund on the southern side,
  • Forming a new walkway on the western side for the benefit large number of morning walkers who visit the lake,
  • Shaded (bougainvillea creepers) stone benches for visitors to sit, relax and enjoy the scenic serenity of the lake.
  • Improving the eastern and the northern pathway,
  • Fencing of the lake perimeter
  • The iron watch tower (within the lake) about 100 feet (30 m) from the shores has been restored
  • Lighting arrangement along the southern bund.
  • Adopting rainwater harvesting methods to improve the quality and quantity of water inflows
  • Augmenting supply to the lake with fresh water inflow with filtered municipal back water wash
  • Adopting aeration of water techniques: boating is one of the methods widely adopted houses - a boating center has been established
  • Removal of algae by manual methods
  • Engineering methods to clean the boundary conditions of the lake such as desilting and opening of the intake channel
  • Ban on immersion of idols during festivals
  • Banned dumping of
    medical waste
    in the lake
  • Increased security system to restrict human influence
  • Increased aquaculture
  • Stakeholders participation for collective ownership and responsibility to restoration activities

Gallery

  • Purple moorhen
    Purple moorhen
  • Asian openbill stork
    Asian openbill stork
  • Three pelicans
    Three pelicans
  • Openbill storks
    Openbill storks
  • Painted storks
    Painted storks
  • Pelicans
    Pelicans
  • Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo)
    Cormorants (Phalacrocorax carbo)
  • Oriental darter
    Oriental darter

References

  1. ^ "Kukkarahalli Lake".
  2. ^ http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/lake2006/programme/programme/proceedings/studentspapers/ug.htm. Preservation of Mysore Urban Waterbodies
  3. ^ [1] Popularity turns a bane for Kukkarahalli lake
  4. ^ a b c http://www.mysoretourism.org/Kukkarahalli%20Lake.htm Kukkarahalli Lake
  5. ^ "Mysuru District - KARNATAKA". Mysore.nic.in. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  6. ^ Limnology, Watershed Hydrology and Monitoring
  7. ^ a b c http://wgbis.ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/lake2006/programme/programme/proceedings/studentspapers/ug.htm Preservation Of Mysore Urban Water bodies
  8. ^ a b http://ces.iisc.ernet.in/energy/water/proceed/section6/paper3/section6paper3.htm Biochemical Aspects of Water Pollution in Two Lakes of Mysore City
  9. ^ Google Spreadsheet (30 October 2016). "Bird Checklist". Mysore Nature. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 1 December 2016. {{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ "Important Bird Areas (IBA)". Mysore Nature. 30 October 2016. Retrieved 1 December 2016.
  11. ^ Page 40, India Archived 3 January 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ^ Wetlands of Karnataka
  13. ^ "Two City Lakes Regain Their Glory". Mysoresamachar.com. Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2016.

External links